Fifty paper angels from Greener Village (the food bank) are waiting patiently to be chosen from a small tree in the cathedral. Each requests a specific Christmas gift or some stocking stuffers for a needy boy or girl in our city.
Please print your name and telephone number on the clipboard to indicate which angel you're adopting. Bring the unwrapped gift, with the paper angel firmly attached, to the church on Sunday, November 13th. Drop-off boxes will be set up near the angel tree.
If you can't bring your gift that Sunday, please take it to the Cathedral Office before Monday, November 14th, during office hours (weekdays 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon).
“It might seem early, but demand at the food bank has skyrocketed,” explained Outreach Committee treasurer Doug Milander. “They're dealing with 3,000 clients a month – 25 new families just last week – so they need plenty of time to collect and distribute the gifts.”
Doug said the Outreach Committee deeply appreciates the congregation's generous support in making Christmas special for children in our city, especially during a lingering pandemic, high inflation and a looming recession.
He added that the committee must purchase any gifts that arrive late or not at all.
Another option for Christmas giving is to write a cheque payable to Christ Church Cathedral and indicate Christmas Outreach on the memo line. Deliver your cheque to the church office by December 16th. As in past years, these funds will be divided equally among the Fredericton Homeless Shelters, Women in Transition House Inc. and the Fredericton Community Kitchens.
As part of our Cathedral Faces series, we are sharing biographies of our staff members. These dedicated individuals contribute a lot to our community, in ways seen and unseen, and we are thankful for their work.
J. Thomas D. Gonder, born in Cayuga, Ontario in 1971, exhibited musical gifts at an extremely early age. He spent most of his life in London, Ontario, his family having relocated there in 1981. Immediately becoming involved in the musical life of St. Paul's Cathedral, he spent many years there as a chorister, Organ Scholar, Assistant Organist, and Organist and Master of the Choristers. Thomas quickly rose to the forefront of the Canadian Organ scene as one of its brightest young performers shortly after his public debut at the age of 15 under the tutelage of D. Mervyn Games. Today he is recognized as one of Canada's leading and most versatile concert organists and church musicians. His teachers, mentors and greatest influences also include David Palmer, Ian Sadler, William S.J. McArton, Catherine Crozier, Simon Preston, Gerald Bales, Naji Hakim and David Briggs.
Thomas has developed a wide-ranging career as organist, accompanist, church musician and composer. Naji Hakim (Paris, France) has described him as "a deeply feeling and emotional player", Simon Preston (Great Britain), "an amazing talent", and the esteemed Canadian musician Gerald Bales, OC, (1919 - 2002) proclaimed him the foremost interpreter of his organ works. Thomas has earned himself a reputation as an exciting, virtuoso performer of distinction in command of a vast repertoire, most notably with the French Romantic and Post-Romantic repertoire, having performed the complete Organ Symphonies of Louis Vierne in 1997 and 2014. Thomas is internationally recognized as a leading interpreter of the organ works of Naji Hakim of Paris, France, the most prolific composer of organ music in the world today. Thomas has premiered much of Mr. Hakim’s work in Canada. In 1995 he gave the Canadian Premiere of 'Vexilla Regis Prodeunt' at the Jack Singer Concert Hall, Calgary, Alberta. 1997 saw the World Premiere of Gerald Bales' 'Impromptu-Toccata' at the closing concert of the Royal Canadian College of Organists National Convention. Thomas has also had numerous works composed for him and recent years have seen two world premieres of works by Parisian composer, Nicolas Chevereau and Elegie Canadienne by David Briggs.
Thomas joined the Cathedral Staff in January of 2020 and quickly and enthusiastically joined the wider Fredericton community. A lover of nature and a self-professed bird watcher, he is enjoying some of what makes life along the River St. John so unique.
We are fortunate to have Thomas leading both the Cathedral Choir and Worship Band. In 2021 and 2022 he organized the Cathedral Summer Music Series, with free concerts featuring a variety of performers and musical styles. In addition, he liaises with local music groups who book the Cathedral for concerts and rehearsals. Thomas has also taught organ students, including Cathedral Organ Scholar Christian Vanicek.
Shortly after his arrival in our city, an article about Thomas was published in the NB Anglican newspaper. Read it here.
Watch a slideshow of photos from the Choral Evensong and Memorial in Commemoration of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, held in Christ Church Cathedral on 19 September 2022.
Our high school scholarship students in Belize have begun their fall semester. Thank you for your support and prayers! One of the students had been quite ill after a COVID infection, but was given clearance by a doctor to return to class in September.
The four students (Caleb, Edvin, Gian, and Korey) are thankful for the opportunity to continue their studies. For many children in Belize, their time in the education system ends after Standard 6 (roughly equivalent to Canadian Grade 8).
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Ms. Jane Martinez, the principal at St. Hilda's Anglican (elementary) School, sent us some pictures of the first week of school, Literacy Day, and a new preschool space.
She writes:
"The success of our preschool opening is only by God's grace and favour. The gentleman who installed the toilets and did all the plumbing and other work willingly waited for the funds to come in order for him to get paid."
I will say once again thank you so very much. I cannot find the words to say how thankful we are for your support. Your assistance is greatly appreciated and always a blessing to us. St. Hilda's Anglican School is developing and you all have played a very important role in this.
We continue to pray for you as you pray for us as well."
Contributions towards the Belize missions are welcome and appreciated, and support St. Hilda's elementary school and high school scholarships. You may give by making an online donation or submitting a donation marked 'Belize' through the Cathedral office or offering plate. Charitable tax receipts will be provided.
Thank you for your support, which truly makes a difference in the lives of these children.
As part of our Cathedral Faces series, we are sharing biographies of our staff members. These dedicated individuals contribute a lot to our community, in ways seen and unseen, and we are thankful for their work.
Ashley John Swim was born in Oromocto and raised in McAdam, where his family still resides. As a child and youth he spent a lot of time on his grandfather’s farm just outside McAdam near the New Brunswick/Maine border. He considers himself an outdoorsman and loves nature, and is also an avid reader with a broad range of interests. He loves history and one of his favorite hobbies is tracing ancestry and genealogy.
Ashley has worked in a variety of settings over the years, including the YMCA of Fredericton, Christ Church Parish Church, Brunswick Street Baptist Church, the University of New Brunswick, St. Thomas University, and most recently the Maritime Forestry Complex.
Ashley is a proud New Brunswicker and Maritimer. He loves Fredericton and enjoys hiking and biking the many trails in and around the city. During the weekend and summer vacation, he can usually be found with his wife Lana and daughters Piper and Sundae near the ocean, either on Grand Manan or Pocologan. Ashley is very grateful to be a part of the Cathedral congregation.
As Cathedral Sexton, Ashley's work involves the cleaning and care of Christ Church Cathedral and Cathedral Memorial Hall. He frequently liaises with service providers, the Property Committee and Heritage Standing (the engineering firm that wrote the Cathedral Conditions and Issues Report). The position of Sexton is integral to the overall operations of Christ Church Cathedral.
Luke's gospel refers to a house being swept and put in good order, but it doesn't say anything about defrosting a freezer or cleaning a popcorn machine.
“We have a checklist of necessary tasks to be done during the seasonal cleaning of the kitchen at the church hall,” Kitchen Committee chair Kathy McBride said.
A five-member team recently defrosted the freezer; discarded dubious food items; cleaned the refrigerator, microwave, toasters, coffee machine and stove tops; scrubbed the sinks; wiped down the cupboard faces; cleaned the window ledges; tidied the drawers and cupboards; checked the dishwasher; disinfected the counter tops, and completed other such “good housekeeping” jobs.
“Our kitchen is a big, beautiful, well-equipped space which can be used for shared meals, funeral receptions, teas, luncheons associated with meetings,” Kathy explained. “Users are good about keeping it tidy from one event to the other, but a thorough cleaning is needed two or three times a year.”
Before the pandemic, the seasonal cleaning was done in rotation by the ACW, the Outreach Committee, the Guild of St. Joseph, and the Saturday morning breakfast workers. As with many people, places and things post-pandemic, a lot has changed.
“This time three members of our committee, joined by two friends from the congregation, worked hard to make the kitchen sparkle,” Kathy said. “We want to operate a clean, safe, efficient kitchen for everyone to enjoy,”
Groups that use the kitchen regularly are asked to fill out a departure checklist located in a pink binder on the kitchen counter. This binder is reviewed a couple times a month so that problems, such as a leaky faucet or a lack of vinyl gloves, can be addressed promptly.
With the cleaning chores done, Kathy has a couple of final comments. “Please always label and date anything you put in the fridge or freezer. And, if you left a container, platter, pie plate, cookie tin or whatnot at the hall when donating food for an event, please come back and get it.”
The committee meets on the third Wednesday of each month. Kathy welcomes questions at any time, and notes that she will put out a call for volunteers the next time seasonal cleaning is scheduled.
Have you been wondering? Why has 'Sunday School' been replaced by 'GodlyPlay'? What's it all about?
Since the Fall of 2017, the Cathedral's Sunday morning Christian formation for children has been using a methodology called GodlyPlay. Through the pandemic we carried on through Zoom and are excited to be back to in-person this Fall.
GodlyPlay is an innovative method of faith formation for childhood and beyond, allowing participants to experience faith-building stories through intentional storytelling and imaginative wondering.
This method of teaching children was created by Dr. Jerome Berryman, an Episcopal priest (now retired) and scholar on the theology of childhood and the Montessori approach to religious education. It is used across the globe and across many denominations. It is also no longer just used for children. Overseen by the GodlyPlay Foundation and its International Council, standardized training is required of those who are to be 'teachers.'
The mission of the GodlyPlay Foundation is: Making meaning through story, wonder, and play. Nurturing spiritual lives by honoring the centrality, competency, and capacity of children.
A session held in the old Godly Play room, in the basement of Memorial Hall
A GodlyPlay session consists of four intentional movements (a basic liturgical structure): welcome and opening; sharing and responding to the story of the day (including wondering together and choosing a form of "work" as response); keeping the feast; and conclusion and dismissal. There are two teacher roles: the storyteller and the door person (think of the best greeter at a church door). At this time, the Cathedral has only two trained teachers, so we alternate these roles each session.
GodlyPlay lessons are told with a combination of an oral story and storytelling objects. The stories and movements are learned by heart by the storyteller. A story is followed by a number of "I wonder" questions to invite responses from the children. Through these planned stories and materials, which follow a rhythm through the year, children learn the art of using Christian language – parable, sacred story, silence and liturgical action – helping them become more fully aware of the mystery of God’s presence in their lives.
The storytelling objects are not just visual aids for a story but are intended to be played with and further explored through the 'work' time. They come in many forms; for example: some stories are told using a set of painted pictures (you may be familiar with the Faces of Jesus that has been presented during worship on Good Friday), the Old Testament exodus stories use wooden figures and a small sand pile (the desert), and the parables use a combination of felt and flat painted pieces to lay out a moving storybook page. We are grateful for those who have created or helped us to purchase our storytelling objects.
The GodlyPlay room is laid out intentionally so that the materials for any given story are always in the same place and located with those of similar types of stories. We have a focal shelf unit holding the big picture stories, Old Testament shelves, New Testament/Lent/Easter shelves, and we are pleased to have received a new set of shelves for our Parable stories. Thanks to Jim Waugh for building these shelves.
During the 'work'/response time, children can choose to explore any story further, read a storybook, or create something using paints, modelling clay, felt and other craft materials. It is always the child's choice what their 'work' will be.
Our 'feast' time reminds us that we are a community that gathers around a shared meal. This is a simple snack - this time of year we enjoy apple slices and water - much like the Eucharist uses common foods. And we give thanks for our feast so that we remember to live all of our life with gratitude. The welcoming and dismissals are also intentional, focusing on each child in turn as they enter and leave the room.
With GodlyPlay, our 'Sunday School' time is not just about learning lessons or keeping children entertained. It is about locating each lesson in the whole system of Christian language and involving the creative process to discover the depths of meaning in them. It’s about understanding how each of the stories of God’s people connects with the child’s own experience and relationship with God. GodlyPlay respects the innate spirituality of children and encourages curiosity and imagination in experiencing the mystery and joy of God.
Children 4 and up are invited to join this adventure every second Sunday, beginning to gather at 9:15am, in the Christian Formation room in Memorial Hall. We would also welcome any who would like to explore this ministry further to speak with us and consider taking a training session. Contact Kurt Schmidt or Cheryl Jacobs, or inquire through the Cathedral Office.
In September, the Guild of St. Joseph (affectionately referred to as the Holy Joes) gathered for a shared meal.
The last time this Cathedral men's group held a barbecue was in June 2019, over 3 years ago, and members were pleased to enjoy this time of fellowship, along with their spouses and Cathedral staff members.
Approximately 25 people attended and enjoyed socializing over hamburgers, hot dogs, fresh local corn on the cob, salads and desserts.
The Guild's motto is “Serving God and Church with heart and hands.” The focus is the maintenance and repair of the fabric of the Cathedral, the Green, and Memorial Hall.
Typically, the Guild hosts an annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper (which they hope to resume this spring) and provides a Halloween watch, spring flood watch and the 'Greening of the Cathedral' during Advent.
The group meets in the Hall Lounge on the first Tuesday of each month (September through June), and warmly welcomes new members. For more information, speak with the Guild President, Gary Barfitt, or contact the Cathedral Office.
Spiritual Direction originated as spiritual mentoring in monasteries, but it is now offered by retreat centers, congregations, and individuals. It is a unique one-to-one relationship in which a trained person assists another person in the search for ever-closer connections with God (however you might call the "something more" beyond yourself), to your true self, and to those in the world around you.
Spiritual Direction encourages you to explore a deeper relationship with the spiritual dimensions of human existence by telling your own sacred story.
Spiritual Direction is more about "holy listening" than of providing "direction" in the sense of offering instructions, assignments, or direct advice, although that sometimes happens and can be requested. A spiritual director listens carefully to the unfolding of your life to help you discern the ways you are being led to a deeper and richer life.
If you are interested in exploring Spiritual Direction, contact Deacon Debbie Edmondson by email <dedmondson at cccath.ca> or phone (506) 282-1015.
“Spiritual direction explores a deeper relationship with the spiritual aspect of being human. Simply put, spiritual direction is helping people tell their sacred stories every day."
— Liz Budd Ellmann, former Executive Director, Spiritual Directors International
Thank you to all who assisted with the corn boil on 11 September, volunteering their time or assisting with food preparation.
After 10:30 worship, we served corn, watermelon, sweets and lemonade on the Cathedral lawn. The warm day made it very enjoyable to spend time chatting with others in the congregation, as well as some newcomers to Fredericton. We also appreciated sitting in the shade at the Calithumpians' picnic tables!
We hope to have more social events in the future, to foster connections within our Cathedral community, and we hope to see you there!
Fifty paper angels from Greener Village (the food bank) are waiting patiently to be chosen from a small tree in the cathedral. Each requests a specific Christmas gift or some stocking stuffers for a needy boy or girl in our city.
