Episcopal Church Foundation Vital Practices - Vestry Papers - Practical Stewardship - Financial Transparency
Transparency is a "buzzword" in many situations. It means many things to many people, but generally elicits a positive response in most minds - transparency is a good thing. When applied to the church as a whole and to a local parish, school or other church organization in particular, it begs the question, "transparency of what?"
Category Archives: Formation
The Season of Creation 2018
Season of Creation 2018 - 01 September - 04 October
What is the “Season of Creation”?
Every year, from September 1st to October 4th, churches are called to participate in the “Season of Creation.” The World Council of Churches has been promoting this theme since 2008. This special time of year has gained popularity in Europe, and the United Church of Canada was the first to celebrate it here in Canada. Since 2017, all churches in Canada are invited to celebrate the “Season of Creation” in their faith community. The Green Churches Network is happy to offer a “box” of resources designed to make creation care more relevant and “doable” for your church. The Anglican Communion Environmental Network encourages Anglican churches worldwide to participate.
Why September 1st to October 4th?
In 1989, Demetrios I, Patriarch of Constantinople decided to dedicate the first day of the Orthodox liturgical year (September 1) to the protection of the environment. He then invited the whole Christian world to join in so that “every year on this day, we raise prayers of thanks for the great gift of the created world, prayers of supplication for its protection and salvation.” In 2015, Pope Francis named September 1st the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.
October 4th is the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. He is the patron saint of ecology in the Catholic tradition since 1979. He is a model of integral ecology, demonstrating that the love for the poor, the sick and for all creatures comes from the same Source.
What to do during the “Season of Creation?”
Christian communities are invited to organize various activities on the theme of Creation Care between September 1st and October 4th: prayer services, intergenerational activities, conferences, activities for children and young people, fund raising, etc.
The Green Churches Network has created the “Season of Creation in a Box” to help inspire educational, action-centered and spirituality-themed activities in your faith community.
Resources
- Resources from the Canadian Green Churches Network
- Resources from SeasonOfCreation.org
- Resources from SeasonOfCreation.com
- Resources from the United Church of Canada
- Resources from the World Council of Churches
- Resources from Let All Creation Praise
- Resources from Seasons of the Spirit video
- Resources from Web of Creation
- Special prayers by the Franciscan Missions
BELLS Challenge 2018
Our Bishop and the Diocesan Synod of 2017 challenged us to "take the BELLS Challenge to fulfill the mission of God."
In his book, "Surprise the World: The 5 Habits of Highly Missional People," Michael Frost outlines a framework for how we might become more "mission minded as individuals." A church with an attitude of mission is comprised of individuals who take mission seriously and think missionally. Mission is not really about going to distant lands and sharing our own interpretation or understanding of who Jesus is. Mission-minded people exercise mission in every encounter they have with others every day. A "missional church" is one with membership who have become, or are becoming, "missional people" with a missional mindset. "Surprise the World," is a simple, yet effective opportunity and method to form habits that make us missional people.
BELLS helps to focus our efforts in becoming missional in such a way as to assist us to re-orient our thinking towards mission.
Michael Frost says:
"I’m not suggesting that BELLS is a magic bullet or anything like that. But it is a really handy tool for mobilizing Christians up, in and out into mission. That is, up into deeper connection with the Triune God; in to a stronger sense of community with other believers; and out into the neighborhood."
At Christ Church Cathedral, during 2018 Easter Season all were challenged to read "Surprise the World." That reading was done individually, as part of a Charis Group, or other group that formed for that purpose. We offered a viewing of the videos featuring Michael Frost which accompany each of the chapters of "Surprise the World." A sermon series was preached on the first five Sundays after Pentecost. We'll continue to look for ways to implement the Surprise the World (BELLS) model as we work toward becoming more "highly missional people" in the weeks and months ahead.
During Easter 2018, all at the Cathedral were challenged to read "Surprise the World."
The wall chart at the Cathedral recorded how many have read "Surprise the World" and charted our progress. A sticker placed anonymously on the chart let us all know how many read.
Paper back edition
The Kindle edition is modestly priced
Download "Surprise the World" as a PDF
Videos accompany each chapter
DOWNLOAD "BELLS DNA" (Discipleship, Nurturing, Accountability) Form
The "BELLS" sermon series
1 Introduction
SERMON – “Three Persons, Questionable Lives“
2 Bless
SERMON – “Blessing and Generosity of the Heart“
3 Eat
SERMON – “Eating and Radical Hospitality“
4 Learn and Listen
SERMON – “Learning and Listening – Ulterior Motives“
5 Be Sent
SERMON – “The Saints are Sent“
Choir School 2018 – its all about …
A Full Week of Busy Days ...
Junior Choristers
Children from the age of 8 are able to attend Choir School, with the consent of a parent or guardian (they must turn eight by the end of the current year). Overnight accommodations usually consist of two people per room, in the dormitory-styled residence buildings. The days are very busy, so we encourage parents who are unsure about what is involved to contact the Administrative Director. A typical day begins at 7:45, and ends at 9:00pm, and includes chapel services, several rehearsals, classroom time, recreation, meals (of course!), an early afternoon rest period, and some free time.
Arrival time on the first day is between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon with supper at 5:30. Please come to the Dining Hall to register (follow the signs). For the benefit of all choristers, please do not send cell phones as it can create problems for those who are homesick, and others around them. Any cell phones found will be confiscated until the end of the week.
Thursday evening, we offer a Choral Evensong service at a parish church, to which all are invited. The last Sunday afternoon, at 3:30, is our final Choral Evensong service. Family and friends are encouraged to attend this service, which takes place at a large church or cathedral, children can then be picked up after the service. This service is very well attended.
recreation, chapel worship services, rest time, and special fun activities
Choir School’s finest daily paper provides vital information about... uh, nothing, but it’s fun to read each day.
For best seating, please arrive at the church just after 3:00pm, when the choirs finishes its rehearsal.
Adult Choristers
Adults who are attending Choir School are encouraged to come to the Thursday night Evensong service. From there, you can go directly to RNS (Rothesay Netherwood School) where you can settle into a room at Kirk House, on the RNS campus. registration takes place the following morning after breakfast at the Dining Hall. Some adults, however, are only able to join us on Friday, which is OK, too!
Choir School takes place every year in the first full week of July on the beautiful campus of Rothesay-Netherwood private school. Some stay in the residence buildings, while local choristers sometimes live at home, and come for the full day of activities. Each day is very full, and sleep becomes a rather precious thing by the end of the week. Through the week, the chorister's day is filled with choir rehearsals, a classroom session of Christian Education, Christian culture, as well as recreation, chapel worship services, rest time, and special fun activities.
Hear our youth surveys requested
Hear Our Youth's Voices Surveys
The YIG team is conducting a series of surveys for parishes, families (parents and grandparents) and youth (ages 12-25) to gather information, thoughts and opinions in regards to youth ministry and spiritual practices.
It should take less than 15 minutes to fill out one of the surveys. The data gathered will be used to give the YIG team an idea of what spiritual practices and youth ministry is like within the Diocese. A report and workshop/presentation will be featured at the next Diocesan Youth Ministry Conference on September 29, 2018 at St. Paul's Rothesay. We hope to see you and the survey participants attend.
After you complete the surveys you will receive instructions in how to enter a draw for 1 of 3 $50 Cineplex gift cards for youth and one free week at Camp Medley each for parishes and families.
The surveys can be done online using the links below:
Hear Our Youth's Voice – Family
Hear Our Youth’s Voice – Youth
or find them on the Team's Facebook page.
Youth and Intergenerational Ministries Team
The Faces of Christ – by Sarah Petite
The Faces of Christ are a version of images suggested and used with the Godly Play story method. On Good Friday 2018, "The Faces of Christ" was a modified Godly Play session and part of the worship that day. The "faces" images were created by artist Sarah Petite.
recognizable events in Jesus' ministry, no prompting needed
Here's what Sarah had to say about her images:
"I'd like to thank Cheryl Jacobs for taking a chance on me and asking me to provide these eight paintings for Godly Play! They were fun and very fulfilling to work on. I wanted to make them real 'action shots' - recognizable events in Jesus' ministry, no prompting needed. Just for one example, I especially like the scene of the young Jesus visiting the Temple, and astonishing a rather somber-looking priest with his learning and understanding. I hope the young people in Godly Play are enlightened and inspired by them!"
One - Jesus' birth and growth
In the beginning the baby was born ...
Two - Jesus is lost and found
The baby grew and became a boy ...
Three - Jesus' baptism and blessing
Jesus grew and became a man ...
Four - Jesus' discovery experience
Jesus went into the desert to discover ...
Five - Healer and parable-maker
Jesus came back across the River Jordan ...
Six - Into Jerusalem - bread and wine
Jesus went to Jerusalem ...
Seven - Jesus is crucified
The night was long and confusing ...
The Penal Cross – Sarah Petite
The large crucifix that hangs on the pillar in Christ Church Cathedral during the last two weeks before Easter is an adaptation of an Irish traditional form known as the "Penal Cross." One given to me many years ago hangs in my home, and gave me inspiration for my large version.
The original is simple and primitive in design, and shows many of the symbols associated with the Crucifixion: at the top, INRI ("Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews," in Latin): the hammer and nails, and the sun going through its darkened phases. On Jesus' wrist are the cords that bound him, and on the other side, the tongs used for removing the nails; down the sides, the spear which drew blood and water from Christ's side, the whip used in the scourging, and the ladder used to take him down from the cross. At the bottom struts the cock that crowed at Peter's denial; below it, the pot used to catch Jesus' blood.
My own version uses all these symbols, and I added to them three of my own favourites: the dice which the soldiers used to cast lots for Jesus' cloak; Judas' thirty pieces of silver and the skull, often depicted in crucifixions, said to be that of "the first Adam."
The smaller version which hangs at home, is black, carved from Irish peat. My crucifix is done in encaustic paint (made with beeswax and pigment) on wood.
Sarah Petite, 2005
Celebrating Women – February 2018
On a warm and sunny February afternoon – yes we did have some of those! – approximately 35 women gathered at the Cathedral Hall to hear Kathleen Snow’s presentation entitled Women Making a Difference – Where We are Planted.
Most Christ Church Cathedral congregation members know Kathleen as our Parish Nurse, a member of the 11:45 am Praise Choir, and an active member of Mothers’ Union. Kathleen has been involved with Mothers’ Union for over 30 years. She has served as the local Branch Leader, the Diocesan President, the National President and has gone on to work with the Worldwide Mothers’ Union. As she told the group gathered on February 17th, these roles have provided her with the opportunity to meet some amazing women of faith around the world who truly are making a difference where they are planted!
Before introducing the attendees to these women, Kathleen challenged the group to come up with a list of characteristics of women who make a difference. Most attributes were positive but the odd less- than-positive one did manage to creep in reinforcing the notion that no one is perfect! Here are some of the attributes identified: nurturing, strong, thoughtful, supportive, determined, flexible, organized, committed and bold.
... flexible, organized, committed and bold ...
One of the women that Kathleen went on to speak about was Claudette Kijeme of Burundi. Claudette is a Mothers’ Union Worker who has been leading a Literacy Program focused on women. Since the program started in the year 2000, almost 74,000 people have been trained and are now functionally literate. Literacy Circles have been established in many regions of Burundi and surrounding African countries and the testimonies of women (and men) who have participated were very moving. Life constraints have been removed through literacy. Women can successfully manage their market stalls and not be cheated because they couldn’t count change properly. Literacy became a main tool to empower women. As more and more men became involved, they came to see that women were not worthless as culture had dictated and relationships between husband and wife improved. They now recognize the importance of literacy for their children, a distinct advantage for future generations. Not surprisingly, Claudette’s work led to her being invited to address the United Nations Council on the Status of Women as a member of the worldwide Mothers’ Union contingency several years ago.
Sheran Harper of Guyana developed the Mothers’ Union Parenting Programme which also started in the year 2000. This support program for parents is now run worldwide by Mothers’ Union. Sheran trains facilitators to run the Program aimed at improving family relationships. Kathleen trained under Sheran who visited Fredericton in 2008.
Although Kathleen spoke of other women making a difference in far off places, she reminded everyone that in our midst there are women making a difference. Dawn DeCourcey, a Fredericton resident, quietly runs a program called the Fundy Peace Foundation (FPF). While visiting a school in Kenya as a representative of the Foundation, Dawn realised that even though children may obtain the necessary high rankings to get into high school, they are often too poor to attend. In response, FPF set up a scholarship fund to assist students. It was also noted that few females complete elementary school and become eligible for high school. The Masai Mara Project has raised over $10,000 to help address this need.
So many women making a difference. Blooming where they are planted and continuing to sow the seeds of help wherever they are needed through their faith and their relationships with others. It was noted that as our faith grows, we often look to demonstrate that faith and the love of God to others. These women have all succeeded and continue to succeed in living out their faith each day!
Gail MacGillivray