Category Archives: Formation

Confirmation Preparation Continues

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Preparation for confirmation by 6 students from each of Christ Church Cathedral and the Anglican Parish of New Maryland continues. Confirmation is scheduled for June of this year.

Each participant has an adult mentor who is walking through the process with them. The programme includes nine group meetings of instruction punctuated by 9 meetings with mentors. The meetings are scheduled between the Cathedral and Holy Trinity, New Maryland.

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
In the Anglican Church, we are all about making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We have the great privilege to help our young people and students take the next step in their relationship with Jesus, and we are excited by the work God is doing in their lives. One of the ways we are able to help students develop spiritually is through the Sacrament of Confirmation and the meaningful preparation for it.

Through the process of confirmation preparation, students are encouraged to take ownership of the faith that their parents/guardians/sponsors at Baptism have passed on to them. The confirmation program seeks to launch students into the life of a disciple and member of the Body of Christ in the Anglican Church.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
Through individual study, Bible reading, group discussion, projects, prayer, and mission/field trips, and mentor sessions, students are led to a point of personal decision. They are presented with an opportunity to make a public response to God’s grace, the reaffirmation of the baptismal covenant and proclaim faith in Jesus Christ.

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PROGRAMME OUTLINE

Parent Mentor Training

UNIT 1: The Faith Through Scripture and Worship
Memorize: The Lord’s Prayer

Class 1 – Expectations/Initiation
Session – Getting Acquainted

Class 2 – Worship and Prayer
Session 2 – Holy Baptism

Class 3 – The Holy Bible
Session 3 – The Gospel of Luke
Mission Field Trip

UNIT 2: The Faith Through Doctrine
Memorize: The Ten Commandments

Class 4 – God/Creeds/Doctrines
Session 4 – God/Jesus/Holy Spirit

Class 5 – Ministry/Structure
Session 5 – The Body of Christ

Class 6 – Commandments/Rule
Church Visit / Interview

UNIT 3: The Faith Through Symbol and Sign
Memorize: The Apostles’ Creed

Class 7 – Symbols and Seasons
Session 6 – Spiritual Life
Cathedral Guided Tour – Cathedral

Class 8 – The Sacraments/Eucharist
Instructed Eucharist
Session 7- The Journey Continues

Class 9 – Wrap up OR Retreat?

Confirmation – A “New” Approach?

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This year at the Cathedral, we’re offering preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation, the Laying on of Hands by the Bishop. The programme outline is here. The goal is age-old, to bring those who seek strengthening in the Faith by the Holy Spirit into closer relationship with God and with the rest of the Church. But the approach this year is different. Recognizing what Confirmation really means in our Anglican tradition, we’ll be employing a mentor model which should add an exciting dimension to what may have been in the past a somewhat mundane attempt at enlivening faith. Making disciples will be our primary goal.

The goal is age-old … But the approach this year is different.

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Archbishop Fred Hiltz

We’ll recognize that those who are preparing for confirmation are members of the “Catechumenate.” The process will include various components:

  • “classes” where all gather for a time of instruction and discussion;
  • “sessions” where confirmands and mentors will meet for a more one on one experience of conversation on topics reinforcing some of the class material;
  • supplementary activities like an “instructed” eucharist, a Cathedral tour, or mission field trip(s) to explore what it means to put faith into action.

We are also excited about the involvement of the Anglican Parish of New Maryland as they partner with us in this ministry this year. The Report of the Fredericton Archdeaconry Commission in 2012 (Supplemental 2013) encouraged Fredericton area parishes (Fredericton South Cluster) to work together to build relationships, share resources and more fully exemplify the Church as One.

confirmation2What is the Catechumenate?
The teaching customarily part of confirmation preparation (or confirmation classes) is the Catechism (page 544-555 Book of Common Prayer). In times past, this “instruction” has been minimally a simple memorization of the contents of Catechism. In contemporary times, we’ve come to understand traditional methods of “learning” are less than effective and would look now to other educational methods that better lend themselves to deeper learning experiences. No area of our lives could benefit more from these newer ways than our knowledge and understanding of our faith.

What is Confirmation?
Confirmation is one of the rites of Christian initiation. Once thought of as a completion of Baptism, we now more commonly look to Confirmation as representing the event at the age of discretion when we make a profession of the faith that was made for us at Baptism, probably as an infant. Confirmation does not complete our Baptism, as we become full members of the Church when we are baptized. Confirmation is an opportunity to confess the faith personally. Confirmation is but one more step in the life-long process of becoming disciples.

Will you who witness these vows being made do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?

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2015 Confirmation in the Parish of the Nerepis and St. John

What’s our part in this process?
At the time of a baptism, the congregation is asked a very pointed question: “Will you who witness these vows being made do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?” We answer: “We will.” Unfortunately, for many of us, that’s the last time we think of the answer. But the community of faith has a responsibility of nurture and support for those individuals. That will be expressed through the participation of mentors this year, who will carry a burden of that support on behalf of the congregation. We all also have a responsibility to pray regularly for those who are part of the Catechumenate. On Sunday, 28 February we’ll officially admit confirmands, parents and mentors to the Catechumenate.

If you would like to explore more fully what a renewed emphasis on the Catechumenate could mean for the life and faith of the Church or have been lead simply to be asking what this is all about, several articles are available, all on the Anglican Church of Canada website:

Making Disciples
What Is the Catechumenate?
The Ritual Shape of Catechumenal Ministry
Custom Designing the Catechumenate for your Parish

We say goodbye to Willis Noble

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At the Cathedral we’ll say goodbye to Willis Noble, Director of Music, on the last Sunday in March.  Willis plans to embark on a journey of further academic studies early next fall and will be moving to Toronto.

The Cathedral congregations will say thank you to Willis on Easter Sunday, 27 March following a 10:30 a.m. combined worship when he insists that he will provide the cake, as his own  expression of thanksgiving. “I have nothing but fondness for the people and of my time at the Cathedral,” Willis said.

“The past ten years are some of my most cherished memories and I am thankful for the time I’ve spent with the Cathedral community.”

As an accomplished organist, teacher and choral director, Willis has also successfully continued to nurture a contemporary Christian music group leading the more informal styled 11:45 a.m. worship on Sundays.

Dean Geoffrey Hall said, “I’ve not known a church musician with whom it is easier to work.  Willis hasw_noble a grasp of liturgy and the theological and a breadth of musical ability that has made him a very good fit for the needs of the Cathedral over the past decade.”

“I’ve not known a church musician with whom it is easier to work.” Dean Geoffrey Hall

Of course the Cathedral has been only part of his contribution to the musical community while in Fredericton.  Willis has also been part of the adjunct faculty in the Department of Fine Arts at St. Thomas University. Reporting his being honoured by the New Brunswick Choral Federation for his distinguished service to choral music in the province in 2013 and the Stanley B. Cassidy Memorial Award by the Fredericton Music Society for his outstanding contribution to music in the Fredericton community, the STU website had this to say about him:

“Willis is not only a fantastic musician with an illustrious professional career, but also an extraordinary teacher and a wonderful colleague,” says Dr. Martin Kutnowski, Chair of the Fine Arts Department. He teaches a wide range of courses. Given the satisfaction of his students, it’s clear that Willis feels equally at home when teaching the most basic elements of music, as in a music rudiments class, or when teaching the challenging subject of music and meaning, and everything in between. We are very lucky to have him at STU.”

choirBeing of the Christian faith few at the Cathedral would  put luck high on a list of why things are the way they are. We can only give thanks that God called Willis to spend these past ten years with us.  We wish him well as he moves on to new endeavours.

From 1997-2005, Dr. Noble was Director of Music at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Toronto and Director of Music for Trinity College, University of Toronto. He was also an Associate Professor of Divinity at Trinity College.

Until 1997, Dr. Noble was head of the Department of Music at Mount Allison University, where he taught church music, organ, and choral music. He also conducted the Chamber Choir. He was also the Organist and Choir Director of St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Sackville, a position he held from 1984 to 1997.

Dr. Noble has extensive teaching experience, including history of choral music, church music (especially Canadian repertoire), and Baroque music. He was also a member of the board of the New Brunswick Choral Federation, and Director of the Diocesan School of Church Music. He is an active recitalist specializing in Canadian Organ Repertoire.

Willis has a Master’s Degree in Music from the University of Toronto, and has earned a doctorate from Indiana University in 1982.  He is the author of ‘Sacred Choral Music in Canada.’

Lenten Study 2016

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Prayer will be the suggested focus for Lent.

Our Bishop has recommended a book for use throughout the Diocese entitled: “Meditative Prayer: Entering God’s Presence” by Richard Peace.

The plan will be to form small groups for study and we’ll need both willing hosts and/or facilitators. Each group can schedule as it prefers. The Dean will attempt to visit each of the groups for one session during Lent to provide an informal celebration of the Eucharist and a blessing of the home (if desired).

View a preview version of “Meditative Prayer” or read the jacket overview that follows.  Register and share your participation preferences HERE.

From “Meditative Prayer:”

Our prayers should go as deep as our souls.

Spiritual disciplines are simply ways to open ourselves to God. They help us become aware of the many ways God speaks to us and provide us with ways to respond to God. This book explores and explains how the historical disciplines and perspectives of the Christian faith can deepen both our walk with God and our community with others.

In today’s society we ore often handicapped in our spiritual growth by too narrow a horizon when it comes to spiritual practices. Each generation suffers a kind of collective amnesia, forgetting the practices and perspectives that nourished countless followers of Christ in centuries past. Rediscovering these skills is one way to respond to our culture’s—and our own—deep spiritual hunger.

While it is seemingly preposterous for us to suppose we can interact with the God of this universe, Scripture repeatedly invites us to do that very thing. Prayer is not a minor idea tucked into the cracks of the text; it is central, normative, and expected. Why is it, then, that our prayers are so often dry and difficult?

In Meditative Prayer, you’ll discover those ways of prayer that make use of your mind and imagination, that address your needs as well as strengthen your spirit. By drawing from a number of different sources —from Scripture, from wise men and women who have gone before, and from one another—this study guide will enable your soul to drink deeply from the inexhaustible well of prayer. Though you can use this guide for a personal journey of prayer, it is ideally suited for exploration with a small group of like-minded friends.

Dean Geoffrey Hall
08 January 2016