06 November 2016 – Twenty-Fifth after Pentecost – All Saints Sunday – Remembrance
10.00 Choral Eucharist and Holy Baptism
Christ hath a garden – Drinkell
German Mass – Schubert
Psalm 149
O quam gloriosum – Victoria
528, 250, 361, 274, 57, 276
St. Anne Fugue in E flat BWV 552 – Bach
4.00: Choral Evensong
Smith Responses
Psalms 148 and 150
Walmisley in D minor
Give us the wings of faith – Bullock
275, 520, 282
Sarabande in modo elegiaco – Howells
13 November 2016 – Twenty-Sixth after Pentecost
10.00 Choral Eucharist (BCP)
Cast thy burden upon the Lord – Mendelssohn
Darke in F
Psalm 98 And I saw a new heaven – Bainton
370, 515, 527, 76, 535
Sonata No. 1 (1st mve.) – Mendelssohn
20 November 2016 – Last after Pentecost – The Reign of Christ
10.00 Choral Eucharist (BAS)
O praise God in his holiness – Weldon
Festive Eucharist – Rawsthorne
Benedictus O taste and see – Vaughan Williams
184, 606, 374, 48, 602
Exurgat Deus – Hurford
27 November 2016 – First Sunday of Advent
10.00 Choral Eucharist and Great Litany (BCP)
Wood in the Phrygian Mode
Psalm 122
How beautiful upon the mountains – Stainer
112, 99, 116, 52, 110
Passacaglia in C minor BWV 532 – Bach
4.00 Advent Procession
The Great O Antiphons of Advent
Matin Responsory – after Palestrina
O come, O come, Emmanuel
The Truth from above – arr. Vaughan Williams
There is a flower springing – Praetorius
Hills of the North, rejoice!
Rejoice in the Lord alway – Anon. 16th cent.
‘Twas in the year – arr. Wood
On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
Vesper Responsory – after Praetorius
Lo! He comes, with clouds descending
Litanies – Alain
The congregation of Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton welcomed David Drinkell as director of music in July. He comes among us with his wife, Elspeth. The Cathedral has valued a high standard of music in the past and we are pleased that with David’s expertise and leadership it appears that will continue.
David comes with a long history of accomplishments and experience. He was born in Colchester, Essex in England and had his first paid job as a church organist at twelve years of age! He was paid five shillings per week! Since then, he has earned his BA, FRCO, ADCM, ARCM and has been organist and choir master at many Cathedrals in England, Ireland and for the last ten years, at St. John the Baptist Cathedral, St. John’s, Newfoundland.
A Cathedral is a Cathedral, and it must be a leader in the diocese.
“A Cathedral is a Cathedral,” says David, “and it must be a leader in the diocese.”
However, that does not mean it must be too serious. He has been quoted to say, “Life is too short to be serious,” Indeed, choir rehearsals are peppered with anecdotes and funny stories about the composers and the music, keeping choristers amused.
“When you play a noisy beast like a church organ, you have to have a sense of humour.” He loves to bring to life all the various sounds the organ can produce.
David is known for frequent organ recitals. In Ireland, he played a different program in all 31 Cathedrals, all within one week! In St. John’s, the locals were treated to weekly recitals, totaling 200 consecutive performances. Fredericton audiences will be pleased to learn that he is hoping to continue that custom at Christ Church Cathedral, beginning this year with an Advent series, and continuing each Friday thereafter. He is also hoping that there will be enough interest among youngsters, to form a children’s choir.
His interests are varied and include choral and organ music, food, wine and restaurants and architecture, especially of old churches. He is extremely knowledgeable about many church organs, and regularly posts comments on organ sites by way of the internet with details about church organs.
Accompanying him is his talented wife, Elspeth, who is from the Orkney Isles in Scotland. She has already shown her versatility as a singer, helping in the soprano, alto and tenor sections of the choir, as needed – but not all at the same time! She is looking for employment as an administrator or secretary in the Fredericton area.
Since the position at the Christ Church Cathedral is only part-time, David is also checking out the need for accompanist, adjudicator positions in the Fredericton area.
We are hope David and Elspeth will enjoy being part of our Cathedral church family for a long time.
The report of the task force on the theology of money argues that the current economic system is an example of “structural sin.” Image: Saskia Rowley On October 18,an Anglican Church of Canada task force has released “On The Theology of Money,” a report calling the faithful to embrace a “vision of ‘enough'” when it comes to material wealth.
Bishop and Chapter met on Monday evening, 17 October with ten of thirteen members present. Minutes of the September meeting were adopted. The Dean shared portions of the workbook that accompanies the book “Divine Renovation: From a Maintenance to a Missional Parish” by James Mallon focusing on the role of the pastor and the need for functional teams.
Business Arising
• Hall Front Steps – Repair has been delayed possibly to spring.
From the Dean
• Routine activities – a summary of pastoral and programme activities was outlined as usual
• Meetings – Scheduling meetings continues to be one of the more frustrating challenges. Perhaps scheduling farther in advance would be more effective.
• Leadership in isolation – further to the need for a change in leadership culture, leadership operating in isolation remains one of our corporate challenges. Leaders need to gather to themselves effective and well-rounded teams for ministry tasks. The Chapter needs to operate in an overseeing, strategic planning role.
• To do’s pending – current priorities are Baptism Preparation for 06 November and calling together a Server Guild.
• Thanksgiving Break-in – Police investigation is on-going.
Items for Decision
• Chapter membership – Edmond Biden elected to membership as chair of Buildings and Property with thanks and appreciation.
• Safe Church Policy – Diocesan policy is now in force. Health and Pastoral Care Committee will lead implementation.
• Signage – Communications Committee propose a new Cathedral sign for the southeast green and were granted permission to execute at a cost of between $500-600.
• Church Lighting – a proposal has been made to change outside flood lighting at the Cathedral to LED at an estimated $1500 per year energy saving. Referred to Property Committee for action.
Items for Discussion
• Changing Church Culture – follow-up on of “Divine Renovation” by James Mallon. Discussion on changing the culture towards better health. Recognizing what we do well, implementation of a strategy is needed. The Dean was asked to provide a summary of areas where we are now effective and those not. Executive charged with preparing a proposal for next steps.
Reports
• Financial – the Treasurer indicated that income is ahead of the previous year at about 7%. Gathering information from Cathedral ministries for preparing the 2017 budget needs to begin now. Committee chairs asked to begin that process.
Other
• Treasurer Resignation– received from our Treasurer as of 15 December 2016. The job is beyond what Carol can do at this time. Thanks was expressed to Carol for her service. A detailed list of suggested immediate needs was included and the Executive will facilitate a review of our situation.
• Harvest Supper – organizational lead needs to be identified as Kathy McBride is unavailable due to unforeseen personal commitments
• Up-coming Events – were noted and reviewed. Our Calendar.
The Dean of Fredericton, Geoffrey Hall, wrote to members of the Cathedral congregation on 12 October 2016 to communicate the news about vandalism that had taken place over the Thanksgiving weekend. The note, with the subject line “Some unfortunate news” follows:
Members of Christ Church Cathedral Congregation,
I write with somewhat upsetting news that during the evening of Sunday, 09 October or the early morning of Monday, 10 October 2016, someone gained entrance to the Cathedral and subjected much of the interior to vandalism. A piece of outside furniture was taken from O’Dell House the evening before and there were reports of break-ins at other points along Brunswick Street. Unfortunately, the uncounted offering from Sunday was taken. E-offerings, of course are safe, cheques made out to the Cathedral will be unable to be cashed, but cash offerings were lost and the total amount is unknown. Monday morning is the usual time for counting and the bank deposit.
The Fredericton Police were on the scene early Monday morning and continue to process evidence obtained. The investigation is on-going and we await its outcome.
The good news is, there was a considerable mess created but no real damage. Thanks to members of the Sanctuary and St. Joseph’s guilds and others for helping to put things mostly to right again on Tuesday.
Needless to say, as with any act of vandalism or intrusion, the violation of our space creates a myriad of emotional reactions. Thankfully, this could have easily been far worse. The Cathedral and O’Dell House door locks have been changed, and the exterior and office doors inside the Memorial Hall will be completed on Wednesday.
Regards,
Geoffrey Dean of Fredericton
Photo: Dalton London
The Dean provided an update for the Sunday bulletin of 16 October to communicate additional details. Locks have been changed as indicated.
Since informing the congregation, it has been discovered that three items were also lost: two electric guitars owned by Paul and Catherine MacDonald and a harmonica owned by Tom Fetter, all members of the 11:45 Music Group.
As the note says, the investigation is on-going.
We can again reiterate our thanks to all those who have helped to right the wrong. While cash given on Sunday, 09 October is gone, those who made offerings by way of cheques are encourage to reissue them, as the perpetrators will not be able to cash them. E-offerings remain the safest, most secure way to give. E-offerings also provide a way to assure a regularity of financial support for Cathedral ministry for those who have chosen to make it a priority.
Please be advised the the Cathedral will not be holding a Flu Vaccine Clinic this fall due to the closing of the VON Service. Flu vaccines may be received from your family physician, local pharmacies, and pharmacies within Co-op, Costco, and Walmart. Some pharmacies are requesting that you make an appointment, while others are allowing walk-in service.
The flu vaccine is free of charge to adults and children with chronic diseases such as diabetes, lung and heart disease; cancer; healthy children 6 months to 18 years, and people 65 years of age and older. For further information please visit the Public Health website. Please note, Public Health Offices are only offering flu vaccines to children under six years of age.
Visit dontgoviral.ca for locations and other information.
“A wandering Aramean was my ancestor …” Deuteronomy 26:5
Those words are found in a passage from the Hebrew Scriptures, the Book of Deuteronomy, appointed to be read at Harvest Thanksgiving this year (Deuteronomy 26:1-11). They may mean little to most of us, but for the People of God from whom we inherit an ancient faith, they were central to corporate expressions of thanksgiving at the time of Passover. Discussions about accurate translation and interpretation are centuries old, including questions about to which “Aramean” the writer is actually referring? and, is the Hebrew word preceding it best translated “wandering” or “destroying?” One observation about the message is clear. From where we have come is important. We inherit who we are and even what we have and, in looking back, we gain a fresh appreciation for what we now claim as our own.
The times in which we live can be identified, in more ways than we can count, some of the best any human society has ever known in the history of the world. While “the best of times” surely needs qualification, for most, new technology, instant communication and the wealth enjoyed by a first world society grants a standard of living far beyond what any of our ancestors could have ever imagined. In an age of entitlement, even those of us who have little are rich in comparison to those who have gone before. But for all that gain, all that progress, all the advancement, isn’t it a fact that the “true riches” remain exactly the same?
There is no substitute for sitting at table with family or friends. Nothing can replace the health we so often take so much for granted. Each day is a gift. A future and an eternal weight of glory awaits those of faith – something that money simply cannot buy. As we focus on giving thanks for the material, Jesus taught about “true bread which comes down from heaven.” He made the preposterous claim that he was, in fact, that bread. Giving thanks for the bounty of this season is but a symbol of our being thankful for the true riches – a sign of thanksgiving for the true bread.
I pray you identify the presence of Christ in your encounters with those close to you in this season and that you find yourself able to give “humble and hearty thanks for his goodness and loving kindness.” You’re invited to gather with the Cathedral family on Sunday, 09 October 2016, as we set the table and offer unto God the sacrifice of thanksgiving at our normal times of worship:
8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist – Book of Common Prayer
10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist – Book of Common Prayer
11:45 a.m. Come Worship Eucharist (contemporary)
Please contact the Cathedral Office (506) 450-8500 <[email protected]> if you cannot be with us and wish to request Communion where you are.
02 October 2016 – Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
10.00: Choral Eucharist (BAS)
Let thy merciful ears, O Lord – Mudd
Festive Eucharist – Rawsthorne
560, 500, 508, 453, 467
Psalm 137;1-6
Ave verum – Elgar
A Trumpet Minuet – Hollins
4.00: Choral Evensong (BCP)
Smith Responses
Psalm 118
Stanford in C
O Thou, the central orb – Wood
17, 546, 306
Toccata Songs of Praise – Chappell
09 October 2016 – Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost – HARVEST THANKSGIVING
10.00: Choral Eucharist (BCP)
Jesus Christ, the Apple Tree – Poston
Sumsion in F
Psalm 100
262, 429, 398, 559, 258
Thou visitest the earth – Greene
Sortie in E flat – Lefébure-Wély
16 October 2016 – Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost
10.00: Choral Eucharist (BAS)
Deliver us, O Lord our God – Batten
Mass of St. Denis – Cabena
393, 521, 501, 617, 631
Psalm 119:97-104
O Lord, increase our faith – Loosemore
Praeludium in G minor – Buxtehude
23 October 2016 – Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost
10.00: Choral Eucharist (BCP)
Lord, for thy tender mercies’ sake – Hilton
Harris in F
474, 361, 364, 85, 438
Psalm 65
O for a closer walk with God – Stanford
Postlude in D minor – Stanford
30 October 2016 – Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
10.00: Choral Matins (BCP)
Smith Responses
Psalm 119:137-144
Stanford in B flat
Behold, the tabernacle – Harris
384, 354, 466, 573
Prelude and Fugue in D BWV 532 – Bach
Lucy’s Sewing Group meets Fridays to carry on an embroidery tradition. From left: Rita Cyr-Bonga, Jean Davies, Diane Radford, Ann Dalzell and Flo Harvey. ~ McKnight photos
By Gisele McKnight
Every Friday morning, between three and seven women gather at Cathedral Memorial Hall to keep alive the art of ecclesiastical embroidery.
They range in age from their early 60s to late 80s and they call themselves Lucy’s Sewing Group, based out of Christ Church Cathedral.
Together they have a few hundred years of sewing experience. Without them, and others like them, our Anglican church services would be hard pressed to function.
Their ministry is the embroidery of altar linens — corporals, credence cloths, fair linen, purificators and so on. Without purificators, for example, how would a priest celebrate Holy Eucharist?
“It’s definitely a ministry,” said Rita Cyr-Bonga. “It’s very important. I can’t put it into words.”
“From my point of view, I can sew, so I regard that as a gift. Therefore I should use it,” said Ann Dalzell, another of the members.
Production
The process of producing an embroidered cloth begins in Ireland at Ulster Weavers. Lucy’s buys it in a 10-metre roll. They tried the locally available linen, but it didn’t measure up, so they stick with the Irish.
Rita Cyr-Bonga rolls up a measuring tape after working with a bolt of Irish linen. Lucy’s Sewing Group doesn’t use the cathedral kitchen for eating, only for laying out and cutting metres and metres of linen.
Once it arrives in Fredericton, Rita takes it home for preparation.
“It has to be laundered, washed and ironed, before we use it,” said Jean Davies, who acts as the organizer of the group. “Imagine washing your tablecloth, but 10 metres of it. It’s not a job I would say ‘let me do it!’”
Laundering is to prevent shrinkage later on. Measurements for their products are precise, so this step is crucial.
Then it’s time for cutting the linen into the pieces for which they have orders. Once that’s done, the pieces are hemmed with mitred corners. Then finally, the embroidery can begin.
Flo Harvey explains the process: Fold the cloth in half to find the centre line. Stitch a blue line along it. Fold it the other way and repeat.
“When you’re finished, you have a cross in the centre,” said Flo, adding that’s where the embroidery will go.
A design is selected — either from their catalogue or one the customer provides — and the linen is placed over the pattern for tracing. Flo uses a light table at home and a washable ink pen to do the tracing. Then it’s ready for embroidery, once those blue stitch lines are removed.
When the embroidery is complete, it’s time for another laundering and ironing, and delivery to the customer.
While the group meets and sews each week, much of the work is done at home.
White-on-white embroidery design
Output
Lucy’s produces altar linens for the diocese, and as time and hands permit, they take on projects from elsewhere, even from as far away as the United States on occasion. They made four altar cloths for the Cathedral’s mission to a church in Belize, for example.
In an average year, the group will produce 40-50 purificators, five corporals, five fair linens, two credence cloths and two stiff palls. Turn around time is two months to several months, depending on the workload.
“We have a waiting list and we just do it as we go,” said Jean.
White-on-white embroidery design
Their price list hasn’t changed in a long time. A purificator is $12.50; a fair linen (altar cloth) is about $250. The latest roll of linen cost $306 Cdn, and fortunately, church linens are duty-free.
Their profits are donated to a variety of charitable causes.
Just a spark
Repair of altar linens is a tricky business. If a stitch is loose on a hem, it can be mended. But if it’s a hole in the cloth, its usefulness has ended.
“Traditionally we don’t mend altar linens,” said Ann. “There can be no broken threads on the altar. The only exception is hems.”
That’s why it’s important to snuff a candle, not blow it out. A spark can make a hole, and the only method of disposal is to burn it.
Lucy McNeill in an undated magazine article
Lucy’s origins
In an earlier era, ecclesiastical embroidery involved silk and gold threads on silk cloth. Some churches in the diocese still have these treasures. Now, however, the work of Lucy’s is white on white — white thread on white linen.
Ann, though, had the privilege of restoring Margaret Medley’s colourful embroidered frontals at Trinity Church in Dorchester about five years ago.
“The whole tradition started with Margaret Medley,” said Ann. “By the time she was in the country 12 months, she had started an altar guild.”
Photos of Margaret Medley’s embroidery
Margaret was the wife of Bishop John Medley.
Lucy’s Sewing Group, though, is not part of an altar guild. The roots of this group lie with Lucy McNeill, a somewhat stern but gifted embroiderer who lived next door to Cathedral Memorial Hall.
“Lucy was a rather formidable person,” said Ann. “People don’t realize she was very keen to get small group sewers going in our parishes. Lucy has had a terrific impact.”
Lucy once wrote a front-page article for Embroidery Canada, after which the magazine asked her to continue contributing.
Her answer: ‘I am not at all interested in domestic embroidery.’
She did, however, author a 32-page book called Sanctuary Linens, Choosing, Making and Embroidering, published by the Anglican Book Centre in Toronto in 1975. Two editions were published, but it’s rare to find one these days.
Some in the current group worked with Lucy.
“We were doing this work under her helpful hand and met at her house once a week,” said Ann. “We just kept on afterwards.”
Lucy died several years ago.
New members welcome
Jean was recruited about 15 years ago by the dean’s wife.
“She said, ‘You sew. Why don’t you join Lucy’s group?’ I didn’t know what Lucy’s group was.”
Diane Radford is one of the group’s younger members. She has a unique perspective as a member of the sanctuary guild.
“I find it interesting to see the other side of it,” she said. “You have no idea of the work that goes into it until you see this.”
While some might think the embroidery is too intricate or difficult, it’s a craft that can be learned, and the women at Lucy’s are eager to share it. They eagerly welcome new members. And because this group is senior in age, they understand the importance of recruitment.
To contact the group, call Cathedral Memorial Hall: 450-8500.
Many will remember the 2005 Cathedral Photo Directory. A directory is a useful tool to bring the family of God together as we come to know one another more fully. In 2005, Universal Studios was chosen to facilitate its creation. Once again, Universal will help us become closer. Its a win/win as they have the opportunity to market portraits to those who wish to purchase them while every participant receives a free directory.
Update Our 27 September – 01 October booking times have been filled. Additional sittings will be available at St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church, 603 Union Street, (Northside) Fredericton, NB. Book online or contact Universal Portrait Studios to make an appointment.
This message was sent to the congregation outlining the details:
Universal Portrait Studios has been engaged to produce a Church Directory for Christ Church Cathedral. Over the next two weeks, if they haven’t heard from you first, they will contact the congregation to set up photo appointments beginning September 27th and running through to October 1st.
It has been several years since our last directory was published and based on feedback from that time, we have decided to include contact information for those who wish. You will be given the option to have photo, name(s) and contact information or just photo and name(s). Many members felt that the Directory would prove a more useful tool if contact information was included. All congregation members will receive a copy of the Directory. And, of course, portraits will be available for purchase if desired.
A sample of photos and Directory content has been placed at the back of the Cathedral. In addition, the Sunday Bulletin for September 11th will include a bookmark from Universal which provides some relevant information, including convenient ways to make an appointment by toll free phone: 1-888-769-7339 or by BOOKING ONLINE.
We encourage you to participate and look forward to having this updated communication tool available to everyone!
