The Mission and Outreach team of the Diocese of Fredericton continued its Christian Forum series with a most timely topic entitled COVID-19, Religious Freedoms & Christian Response.
Dr. Alan Sears, Professor Emeritus in the Faculty of Education at the University of New Brunswick, was the speaker, his second time presenting for the diocesan Christian Forum. Alan’s main focus of study and research is citizenship, civic education and the intersection of religion and education.
To help combat the spread of COVID-19, governments worldwide have imposed stringent measures, including limits to public gatherings like religious worship services. Some have seen these rules as violations of their religious rights, and in response, have protested and even engaged in acts of civil disobedience. It is this backdrop that forms the context for Alan’s presentation.
With access to primary health care becoming increasingly challenging, have you heard of New Brunswick's e-Visit program? It is very simple to book an appointment online, and can save you long wait times in the ER. They can handle many urgent health care needs and send a needed prescription right to your pharmacist. The best part is that you do not have to leave your home, as it is done over the phone or video.
We all know someone (or many someones) currently without a family doctor. Even if you are blessed to have one, there are times when we cannot access them the same day, and you may have a more urgent need. It makes it challenging for continuity of care, and it can be a major challenge to book in a walk-in clinic or end up in the ER for something that could have been managed with a simple visit.
For a fee of about $49 you can book online to have a virtual appointment with a nurse practitioner who can manage treatment for many ailments and health inquiries. While this may not be the ideal answer for all, it may help in a pinch considering the current state of health related affairs in New Brunswick.
e-VisitNB is very straightforward to use, but if you need assistance, I'd be glad to help! Email or phone the Cathedral Office (506) 450-8500.
New Brunswick Public Health has published the COVID-19 Winter Plan which informs all sectors of current restrictions and protocols. Visit the website for information about how the Plan will affect your activities.
Level 1 comes into effect at midnight, Saturday, 04 December 2021. We'll continue to be watchful and implement changes in our procedures when directed to do so. For faith venues, Level 1 continues what has been in place for the past several weeks. Of the two options, Christ Church Cathedral is following Option 1 -- proof of vaccination required.
While we might become annoyed or frustrated by the inconvenience of current requirements, please be reminded that it pales in comparison to what is needed if choosing Option 2. Please assure you wear your mask and have proof of vaccination (12+) available. If we experience a site inspection, greeters will need to confirm with officials that all twelve years and up are fully vaccinated. For those we know, personal identification is not necessary.
To review
Proof of double vaccination or medical exemption is currently required for anyone 12+ attending worship in the Cathedral or visiting Memorial Hall. Please remember to bring your vaccine record to worship and group events, and wear your mask. Leaders of groups holding meetings at Cathedral Memorial Hall will be responsible for checking proof of vaccination for those attending [details]. Individuals visiting during office hours should check-in at the Cathedral Office.
The current Sunday bulletin outlines health precautions in place in the Cathedral community, including:
VACCINATION STATUS - Proof of full vaccination is now required for all age 12 and up at the Cathedral. ID will be required for those not known to greeters. These requirements apply similarly to weddings, funerals, and events held in Cathedral Memorial Hall as per current direction by Public Health.
FACE MASKS - The Government of New Brunswick currently mandates wearing masks in gatherings.
As always thank you for your continuing cooperation as we care for ourselves and others.
Our worship livestream is available to watch at 10:30 am on Sunday, if you are not able to be with us (for any reason). Both livestream and recordings can be found on our YouTube channel. Audio podcasts are also available. Listen here. Get notification of new episodes when you Subscribe here.
The Health Ministry Team is willing to assist members of the congregation with making appointments for vaccinations and answering health questions. Please contact Parish Nurse <nurse at christchurchcathedral.com>.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Cathedral Office <office at christchurchcathedral.com> or phone (506) 450-8500, or the Dean <dean at christchurchcathedral.com> or (506) 450-7761.
As Christians, we are called to love our neighbours.
Recently, Christ Church Cathedral became aware of a way to help children in need in its area of Fredericton and collaborated with a local school to provide assistance.
Located beside the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University, Montgomery Street Elementary School has a diverse student body. Approximately 230 children are enrolled in Kindergarten to Grade 5, and the child to parent ratio is high. Its Home and School Association, a volunteer group of parents, guardians and staff representatives, regularly fundraises for school initiatives and to support students and families in need.
In November, the Home and School Association approached Christ Church Cathedral with a request for assistance.
The need within the school community is great, and the pandemic has made it difficult to organize in-school fundraisers or request donations from families multiple times a year.
The Cathedral was in a position to help. Representatives on Bishop and Chapter (the Cathedral’s board) voted to approve a $3000 donation.
Cathedral Treasurer Jamie Yeamans presented a cheque to Home and School Association President Reegan McDougall, along with some students from the school.
The funds will be used to support children in need through a school lunch and milk program, as well as provide appropriate winter clothing for students to wear outdoors. The donation will also support children with developmental needs by contributing to the creation of sensory rooms in the building. The school has a bare budget for these small rooms, but requires more funding to ensure that the rooms adequately provide for these children.
According to Home and School Association President Reegan McDougall, “The need is great, especially during this COVID-era when many families are struggling. Half of the children within Montgomery Street Elementary School have not yet had a ‘normal’ school year due to this pandemic, and our goal is to help as many families and children as we can.”
Supporting its neighbours through local outreach initiatives is an important part of the Cathedral’s mission, and members of the congregation were pleased to provide the support.
“The Cathedral is fortunate to have been in a position this year to be able to partner in this important community effort at Montgomery Street School,” says Geoffrey Hall, Dean of Fredericton and priest at Christ Church Cathedral. “Most especially, we're pleased to have been able to make the connection with some real needs right in our own backyard. We often think we have to go far from home to find mission opportunities, and while those are there and important, there's also much to do in our own neighbourhood.”
The school community is thankful for this new relationship. Says McDougall, “This donation has more meaning behind it than anything ever received in the past.”
Mothers' Union is again participating in The United Nations-recognized 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence and Abuse, and encourages churches and individuals to join the call for prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls. The annual international campaign, now in its 30th year, takes place between 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) and 10 December (International Human Rights Day).
Gender-based violence can affect any person at any time
Gender-based violence can affect any person at any time, and statistics demonstrate that women and girls are particularly at risk. Every day, Mothers’ Union works alongside communities to help end domestic abuse and gender-based violence and to support those affected by it.
During this time of activism and awareness, also referred to as the Global 16 Days Campaign, Mothers' Union's prayers will focus specifically on women and girls, recognizing the value of women and men reflecting, praying, and acting together to call for an end to violence in all its forms.
A prayer diary has been created for use during the 16 Days of Activism. By using the resource, says Worldwide Mothers' Union President Sheran Harper, "we come together to focus our prayers for those living with gender-based violence and those making a stand for change, as well as improving our understanding of the impact of gender-based violence across society."
In conjunction with the global celebration on 27 November, participants will be using the hashtag #nomore1in3 online as a way to highlight the violence and abuse suffered by 1 in 3 women across the world, and calling for an end to such atrocities.
Harper concludes, "Domestic abuse and gender-based violence affect people in different ways. By having this focus, we are not forgetting others; Mothers’ Union is against all forms of violence and abuse. Our members show such passion and commitment in their work, as they make communities and individuals safer around the world. Let us not be overcome, but through our prayers and actions be part of something that means women and girls can live to their full potential. Let’s work to make our world a place where they can do this without fear, in the knowledge that they are precious, that they have rights, that they are wonderfully made."
Listen to Kurt Schmidt speak on Sunday, 28 November 2021 about the 2021 ADVENT-ures.
Happy New Year! — The new Church year is upon us!
Why not add something to your devotional life to mark a fresh start?
Choose from the following list of diverse opportunities on the Advent weekdays to deepen your prayer or study or worship. You are encouraged and invited to add at least one new Advent-ure to your schedule!
MONDAYS
Christmas—The Day God Took off the Mask: Video series with Bishop Bill Hockin and friends. Talks & music, made available beginning at 12:00 noon on each of the first three Mondays of Advent. Details and YouTube link at billhockin.ca.
Waiting for God: Reflective study of Simone Weil’s essay, “Forms of the Implicit Love of God,” led by Alan Hall. In person, 7:00-8:00 p.m. in the Cathedral Sacristy. Please RSVP to Kurt Schmidt.
TUESDAYS
Art & Faith: Short guided meditation on a work of art related to the prior Sunday’s Gospel and in the tradition of Ignatian (imaginative) contemplation. 5:30-6:00 p.m. on Zoom. Link through the Cathedral Calendar or from Kurt.
THURSDAYS
Taizé worship: A simple and contemplative half hour of prayer, song & silence. 2 & 16 December on Zoom, 9 & 23 December in person and livestreamed in/from the Cathedral. 5:30 p.m. start. Link through the Cathedral Calendar or from Kurt.
FRIDAYS
Advent Lessons & Carols “miniseries”— UPDATE: The in-person versions scheduled for 10 and 17 December have been cancelled due to scheduling conflicts with our performers. View recordings from 2021 and 2020 on the Cathedral YouTube channel.
ONGOING / DAILY
Honest Advent: “Advent stations” art exhibit in the Cathedral, available for personal reflection & devotion, Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Sundays 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. Images by Scott Erickson which consider the seasonal theme of the vulnerability of incarnation, and which respond to the question, “Is Christ’s incarnation still happening in our midst?”
Divine Office: Regular (and short!) weekdaily prayer opportunity in the Cathedral. Morning Prayer at 8:45 a.m., Evening Prayer at 4:45 p.m.
Holy Eucharist: Wednesday mornings, 10:00 a.m. in the Cathedral.
Questions or expressions of interest can be communicated to Cathedral Director of Christian Formation, Kurt Schmidt by email or by phone/text to (506) 259-3711. Thanks & Blessings!
The Cathedral Branch of Mothers' Union has advent wreath candles available for purchase again this year. Contact a branch member or the Cathedral office by email or phone (506) 450-8500.
Thanks to the generosity of the Cathedral family, all of the Christmas Angel gifts requested for needy children were supplied on time. The value was approximately $1,150.
Forty paper angels were hung on a small tree in the Cathedral, each requesting a specific Christmas gift or stocking stuffers for a needy boy or girl in our city. The Fredericton Food Bank, Greener Village, coordinates the collection of names and wishes, and solicits local businesses and individuals to show kindness through gift giving.
Ann Deveau, with Charlotte and Claire McKnight, sorting gifts after worship.
The Cathedral has participated in the Angel Tree program for decades, and the food bank is appreciative of this consistent participation. The Outreach Committee currently co-ordinates the collection of toys and stocking stuffers although, in earlier years, the Anglican Church Women (ACW) capably led the effort.
Gifts were requested to be returned to the Cathedral by 17 November, which was earlier than in previous years.
“This was the food bank's deadline for our crop of angels, allowing them time to distribute gifts to the hundreds of families they serve,” explained Outreach Committee treasurer Doug Milander.
Some of the many gifts donated by members of our congregation.
Greener Village Angel Tree Project Coordinator, Alexa English, says that the community response has been extremely positive, and she expects all families to receive the gifts requested. Although group donations have been collected, individual angels are still available on an Angel Tree located in the Regent Mall. In addition to angel tags requesting a specific gift, the program also accepts monetary donations to purchase gifts and help families in need through other food bank programs.
Another option for Christmas giving
Cathedral members who would like to participate in another method of Christmas giving are encouraged to write a cheque payable to Christ Church Cathedral and indicate Christmas Outreach on the memo line. 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. Cheques may be delivered to the Cathedral office by 17 December.
Cleaning out your closet and want to help Frederictonians in need?
The Cathedral Outreach Committee serves people in need who visit the steps of Cathedral Memorial Hall on the last Monday of each month. Those visitors are given a goodie bag of food items and a $10 gift card for a supermarket, and an opportunity to choose free items from a table of donated items. Currently, guests are in need of warm clothing, winter jackets, boots and gloves. Men’s items are especially needed, as most of the guests are men. Small-sized toiletries such as toothpaste, shampoo, shower gel and deodorant are also welcome. The Outreach Committee currently has plenty of scarves and hats, and does not need household items. Donations can be brought to the Cathedral Office during office hours, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon, Monday to Friday.
The Drive Baptist Church's Clothing Bank is open to the public and serves those in need by providing free clothing, footwear, household items, Christmas decorations, food and hygiene products. The mission is run by retired seniors who volunteer their time.
If you would like to donate to the Clothing Bank, please place items in the orange donation boxes beside the church at 150 Greenwood Drive. No furniture or electronics, please. Donations can be made at any time.
If you know of someone in need who could benefit from the Clothing Bank, please share this information with them. Proof of vaccination and masks are required. Contact The Drive Baptist Church for more information.
Whether planting seedlings in Uganda or breadfruit trees in Haiti, preparing gift bags for new babies in Lesotho or teaching gender rights in El Salvador, PWRDF partners are investing in their communities.
PWRDF’s World of Gifts makes it possible for you invest, too.
Supporting World of Gifts is an investment in a sustainable future for some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. This year’s guide supports 17 partners as they plan for a healthier and stronger future. Like any good investment, the return on World of Gifts is high: communities become stronger, healthier and more resilient, and we are able to live out Jesus’ commandment for us to love our neighbour, no matter where they may be.
The gifts in this year's guide will bring new opportunities and hope for communities across the world as the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund partners strive to build a truly just, healthy and peaceful world. When you make a purchase, you can order a customizable gift card or e-card to send to your loved ones, so that they know a gift has been made in their honour.
Our new Parish Nurse, Sarah Ecker, has shared some reflections about her time with us so far, lessons learned from her parish nursing course, and observations about life in a pandemic. Please feel free to reach out to Sarah if you'd like to connect.
Hello! I hope everyone is well as we move into the cooler, shorter days leading up to Advent! It has been a pleasure to start to meet some of you and get to know you. From a new person’s perspective, I am so humbled by your kindness and can see that a healthy, whole, and caring community is a shared goal among you all.
I wanted to let you know that I am currently working on my first Parish Nursing course through St. Peter’s Seminary in London, Ontario. It is an absolutely wonderful course and the leaders have done a great job at infusing the heart of Parish Nursing into a jam-packed course that is both practical and spiritually deep.
I have been learning and reflecting on the aging population this past couple weeks, and gaining even more of an appreciation for the stage of life and spirituality of this demographic. One key aspect in particular is the importance of spirituality in coping. We all have seen how the pandemic has impacted people, and the aging population is no exception. There is a lot of evidence to support it has been one of the most socially, mentally, physically, and spiritually impacted groups. There are some central challenges as we navigate the space between safety and connectedness. One such challenge a person could face is isolation; from family who live away, local restrictions, group-living arraignments, or personal decisions to maximize safety. Having contact with your support systems is crucial to your mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. Although it does not replace our ideal desires, there have been some creative ways to accommodate these road-blocks through connecting to online worship, using technology to use video to stay connected, social media, home communion. Please reach out to me if you are struggling.
Sometimes we start to acknowledge our loneliness when things are beginning to look up. This is a normal part of coping with the collective changes brought on by the last couple years, especially in combination with an already fast-changing life stage. Bring in chronic illness or acute medical challenges, and life can feel like it has been flipped over from everything we had hoped for and anticipated. Even when life begins to stabilize, it is very common to start processing the emotional and mental strain of the tumultuous season you just came through.
If you find yourself identifying with this, I would like to encourage you to spend some time to reflect on the challenges you have faced or are facing and recognize that when things do not go as planned; it is a very appropriate human response to feel sadness, grief, or a sense of loss. These emotions are important indicators. During a time when we have had to flex our resilience, dig deep, and be content - come what may; it is okay to take a deep breath, remember your humanity, accept the reality, and embrace care, encouragement and support. I would love to connect with anyone feeling the impact of this season and offer you compassion and encouragement.
I will leave you with this scripture from Matthew 11: 28-30:
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
