Door Persons are key figures in supporting the children who gather in community for Godly Play.
On Saturday, 14 October, from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Christ Church Cathedral is hosting a Godly Play Door Person training session. This 5-hour workshop offers a unique way to encourage and support volunteers helping with children’s programs. Leadership will be provided by experienced Godly Play trainers: Archdeacon Cathy Laskey and Anne Pirie.
We will explore the principles and practices of Godly Play, and deepen and expand an experience of Godly Play, particularly the role of Door Person. Participants may be part of a Godly Play program already, and/or have an interest in such leadership with children.
During the day participants will
Gain a deeper understanding of how a Door Person supports the circle of children in gathering, listening, wondering, work, the feast and leaving.
Experience a full session of Godly Play
Participate in discovery sessions on Supporting a Godly Play Environment, Supporting Children in their Work, Relationships and Managing Disruptions
The training workshop is an offering of the Godly Play Maritime Co-ordinating Circle
On Sunday August 27th at 7 p.m. EDT I invite Anglicans and friends to join me in a prayer vigil for all those affected by the forest fires in BC and NWT. The extent of the devastation, the evacuation of thousands of people, the courage and exhaustion of firefighters and caregivers all need to be held in prayer and we know we will find strength together.
Please share this link in your diocese to join me – with I hope some of the affected bishops – on Sunday - https://fb.me/e/1qOaFVkyx
With gratitude for our sharing in the gospel,
+Linda
The Most Rev. Linda Nicholls Archbishop and Primate Anglican Church of Canada
The Diocese of Fredericton is expanding the Special Ministries supported by the Synod.
The position of Director of Young Adult Formation has recently been created, recognizing a need for support for teens and young adults in their faith journeys. Kurt Schmidt has been selected to fill this part-time role, providing leadership and pastoral care, with a particular focus on the university campuses. The position will include fostering the spiritual life of a diverse student community in fresh and innovative ways, and work closely with our Camping Ministries to coordinate areas of practical support and formation.
Kurt will also continue with his part-time position as the Cathedral Director of Christian Formation.
"I'm keen and eager to dive into my work right away to support the young adults in our diocese," he said. "I'll be aiming to provide innovative leadership and pastoral care, especially to the young people involved with our camping ministries and on our province's university/post-secondary campuses."
Kurt considers himself an educator at heart and has spent the last 20 years working as a teacher in diverse contexts and at various levels. Kurt’s own spiritual journey includes formative periods among his Jesuit teachers and mentors in high school, with monastic friends during university, alongside members of L’Arche communities in both Canada and the United States, and with various teachers of Celtic Christianity.
How can parents shape a generous spirit in their children? Ken Sloane outlines ten practical ways families can focus more intentionally on giving and gratitude, compassion, and service so that their children grow in faith and generosity.
Who doesn’t want to see our children grow up knowing how to manage money wisely and generously — acknowledging that all blessings come from a generous God who wants our lives to be abundant and full of love and compassion? Unless we are intentional about teaching them, they have only what they will hear from the media and marketers read more ...
Did you know that you can request immediate, confidential prayer for any matter?
The Cathedral Prayer Network is a committee of caring individuals who pray for others. It is different from the public prayer list printed in the Sunday bulletin. Confidentiality of prayer requests is at the core of the group's work.
The Prayer Network is in need of new volunteers. Contact Coordinator Linda Waugh for details or with a prayer request. Phone (506) 450-3057 or email <lmwaugh at live.com>.
The article below, written by Ann Deveau in 2021 when leadership of the Prayer Network moved from Carolyn Howlett to Linda Waugh, describes the function and the heart of the Prayer Network.
Do you feel called to serve in this ministry?
Award-winning author Philip Yancey writes that prayer stands as the place where God and human beings meet and relate.
“We're supposed to be a praying people,” agrees Carolyn Howlett in recalling why she got involved in the prayer network at the cathedral. “We're on a daily walk with the Lord, and it's important to listen, to care and to bring the needs of other people to Him.”
In 1996 a co-ordinator was needed to take over from Reid and Ethel Saunders who had capably led the prayer network for some time. Carolyn offered to step in, never thinking she would be at the helm for a quarter of a century.
“There was a small, willing group of volunteers in the cathedral community to pray for congregational needs and other issues, and it grew over time,” she says.
Sometimes people ask God for all manner of things: to sell their house, to find a job, to survive a divorce, to make it rain.
“We weren't dealing with those types of problems; we focused on requests for healing,” Carolyn says. She stresses that confidentiality was always of the highest importance, and it remains so.
She would inform the other members by telephone -- in more recent years by e-mail -- that a person was struggling with cancer treatments or a serious accident, that a major surgery was under way, that someone was hospitalized and near death.
Isabelle Hockin, one of several longtime members, puts it this way: “I think it’s a huge comfort to people with an urgent concern to know that they can turn to the prayer chain and trust that there will be a group of believers praying for them and/or their loved ones in their hour of need.”
She sees Matthew 7:7 as the guiding principle: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened.
Feedback was usually positive, regardless of the outcome of the particular situation. Typical comments include “the prayer chain made all the difference” or “it uplifted us at a difficult time” or “it helped me with my grief.”
After 25 years, the time has come for Carolyn to pass the torch to another member of the congregation who also believes that being a Christian means leading a life of prayer.
Linda Waugh has been a member of a Charis group for more than 20 years and has always been willing to pray for others.
“I have been thankful for their prayers when I needed them,” Linda explains. “Prayer is powerful, and it is very comforting to know there are others praying for you. In turn, I was glad to be able to pray for other members when they needed prayer.”
Linda thinks it's possible that some people in the cathedral family don't realize that they can ask for confidential prayers for themselves, their friends and family members who need God's love and healing.
“I hope people will feel free to get in touch with me, so that the good work done in the past can be continued for a long time to come,” she says. “My e-mail address is <lmwaugh at live.com> which will likely be published often in the church bulletin for people's convenience.”
Linda is also thankful that Carolyn has agreed to continue as a member of the prayer network.
“It's such a part of me,” Carolyn says, absolutely confident that prayer is effective in bringing God's compassion and comfort to people in their times of trouble.
Tanya Campen describes how engaging children through active wondering creates space for them to share freely and nurtures honest conversation. She equips teachers and guides to shepherd children in the holy work of active wondering.
The word novena is taken from “novem,” the Latin word for nine. A novena is usually made up of nine days of prayer and meditation.
Novenas are an ancient tradition that goes back to the days of the Apostles. Jesus told his disciples to pray together after his ascension into heaven, so they went to an upper room along with the Blessed Virgin Mary, (Acts 1:14) and joined constantly in prayer for nine days. These nine days of constant prayer by the Apostles at the direction of Jesus led up to Pentecost. This is when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples as “tongues of fire” (Acts 2:1-4). This pattern of 9 days of prayer is the basis of the novenas we pray today.
Thus, the novena is an imitation of the Lord’s command to the Apostles when they prayed for 9 days in anticipation of the coming of the Holy Spirit.
On May 10, we hosted a Newcomer Dessert Event at Cathedral Hall. The evening was organized by the Mother's Union, Kurt Schmidt (Director of Christian Formation), and Andreas Decken (Chair of Welcoming and Hospitality).
Kurt and Andreas are extremely grateful to the Mothers' Union for doing an excellent job providing treats and setting up the Hall for the event. We had over 30 people in attendance; many congregational members that are part of various Cathedral Groups were present, but also a number of "new" faces to our worship. We were able to formally welcome people that call Christ Church Cathedral their spiritual home after moving to Fredericton within the last few years. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that many newcomers were active in other parishes prior to moving to Fredericton and bring their expertise, experiences and ideas with them.
Many in attendance also noted that this event was an excellent venue for members of the various groups within the congregation to talk to one another, learn more about each other's involvement and getting to know each other.
Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray for more people to come to know Jesus. What started in 2016 as an invitation from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to the Church of England has grown into an international and ecumenical call to prayer.
Join the global wave of prayer calling all Christians to pray between Ascension and Pentecost for more people to come to know the love and peace of Jesus Christ. We hope that you choose to participate in this global prayer movement. This year, a special emphasis is suggested as we pray for youth and young families.
Christ Church Cathedral will participate from 18-28 May 2023, with group and individual prayer initiatives. View the Guide for Eleven Days of Prayer for information about events, resources for all ages, and readings to help you focus. Printed copies are available at the Cathedral and Hall. Resources such as a Prayer Journal and Novena are also available to download for free on the Thy Kingdom Come website.
Thy Kingdom Come begins with Ascension and ends with Pentecost. Celebrate the Ascension of the Lord on Thursday 18, May at 7:30 p.m. in the Cathedral. Celebrate Pentecost on Sunday, 28 May at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. in the Cathedral, and 4:00 p.m. Choral Evensong.
In the days between Ascension and Pentecost, it has been the habit of many Christians, for centuries, to make the focus of our prayers the same as those first believers. Christ’s last instruction to His disciples on the day of his Ascension is to ‘wait for the gift my Father promised’ (Acts 1:4).
Join us on weekdays during Thy Kingdom Come for a local discussion (45 min) about the series of reflections by the Very Rev’d Bob Key on 1 John. We begin at 5:15 p.m. Friday 19 May in the Memorial Hall boardroom or via Video Conference (see our calendar).
Committoattending the Daily Office in the morning (8:45 a.m.) and the evening (4:45 p.m.) in the Cathedral. Join us for this prayer Tuesday - Friday during Thy Kingdom Come (due to the Victoria Day holiday on Monday, May 22). It takes about 15 minutes.
We are pleased to host two workshops this spring by Spiritual Directors who are members of our congregation. Step out of your comfort zone, attend, and experience the unique perspectives that these workshops can bring to your life.
Finding Your Sacred Story
Saturday, 22 April, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Christ Church Cathedral
Your Sacred Story is not who you think you were, it’s not who you think you need to be, and it’s not who you think you will be. It is a love story-- it is poetry... (Yes! Really). Deacon Debbie Edmondson’s workshop will provide a tool to get you on your way to collecting the pieces to open wide the door of awareness to find your authentic self. Debbie, a Spiritual Director, will share her own story, and through the intimacy of poetic expression and learning a technique to evoke memory, give participants an afternoon of enjoyment and deep reflection. No one has to be a poet, or even like poetry to attend and benefit from this workshop!
Fee by donation. The workshop will be held inside the Cathedral.
Contact <deacon at christchurchcathedral.com> for details or to register.
Igniting the Fire of New Life:
3 Surprising Secrets for Hearing the Voice of God’s Spirit in Your Heart and Answering
Saturday, 06 May, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Cathedral Memorial Hall, Lounge
Do you want to discover God’s dream or purpose for you? Would you like to learn to overcome fear, doubt, and worry and live with greater confidence, faith and trust? Do you want to deepen your relationship with God’s Spirit? Would you love to live in harmony with your highest values and Spiritual beliefs? If one or all of these questions resonate with you, then you are going to love this Workshop!
Hosted by Gael Hogan, certified Spiritual Director (Ignatian Spirituality) and Life Coach. You will learn: how to listen to the Spirit and answer God's call; simple thinking-strategies to guard you from fear, doubt and worry, and deepen your faith and trust; how to be more grounded in God’s love for you.
Held in the Lounge of Cathedral Memorial Hall. Freewill offering. Registration required.
Contact <gaelh at telus.net> for details or to register.
Door Persons are key figures in supporting the children who gather in community for Godly Play.
