Category Archives: Formation

NOVENA – Thy Kingdom Come 2023

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NOVENAJoin us at 5:15 p.m. on weekdays during Thy Kingdom Come.

Two options to participate: 1) In person in the boardroom, second floor of Cathedral Memorial Hall 2) Online via video conference. Check the Cathedral web calendar event to connect. Download or view the NOVENA reflections.

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.

Getting to know each other at a newcomer event

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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.

And yes, the desserts were amazing.

- Andreas Decken, Welcoming and Hospitality Chair

Thy Kingdom Come 2023 – A guide for 11 days of prayer

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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.

Download the Guide for Eleven Days of 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).

Commit to attending 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.

Workshops during Eastertide

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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.

John Hooper (1936-2006)

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The woodcut piece in the Lady Chapel at Christ Church Cathedral is by New Brunswick artist John Hooper.

English-born artist best known for his polychromed carved wood sculptures, Hooper spent much of his youth in China and served as a captain in the British Army in India in 1944. He was educated at the Royal College of Art and Bournemouth College of Art and studied with sculptor Jacob Epstein. After working at the University of Natal in South Africa from 1956-1962, Hooper moved to New Brunswick where he was hired to establish the art program for Saine John schools. He worked as a teacher for many years before devoting himself full­time to his art practice in 1974. Hooper was the sculptor of the cele­brated bronze figure of Terry Fox that faces Parliament Hill in Ottawa. (from Ar(T)chives: Visual Treasures from the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick - a booklet accompanying the exhibition at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery December 2022-May 2023)

John Hooper (scultpor) Wikipedia
Read about the Beaverbrook Art Gallery Exhibition
Watch a National Film Board 1979 production John Hooper's Way With Wood

Preparing for Easter with Godly Play

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Children participating in Godly Play at Cathedral Memorial Hall have been preparing for Easter with stories and art.

During the Faces of Easter week 4 lesson, the children used the Faces of Christ paintings. This photo shows how, after the story was told using the paintings, the children were invited to add other things from the room to "add to our story".

Godly Play is an innovative method of faith formation, which allows participants to experience faith-building stories through intentional storytelling and imaginative wondering.

Learn more about our Godly Play sessions, which are back in-person after a time of online gatherings.

Children 4 and up are invited to join this adventure every other Sunday at 9:15am in the Christian Formation Room in Cathedral Memorial Hall. Consult the Cathedral calendar for the schedule.

Would you like to explore this ministry further? Speak with us and consider taking a training session. Contact Kurt Schmidt or Cheryl Jacobs, or inquire through the Cathedral Office.

 

Mothers’ Union at a glance

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Mothers' Union is an international Christian membership charity of 4 million members living in over 80 countries, who share one heartfelt vision — to bring about a world where God's love is shown through loving, respectful and flourishing relationships. Members actively pursue this vision through community programs, advocacy campaigns and a committed prayer life.

View / download the Canadian Mothers' Union information brochure

Mothering Sunday, not to be confused with Canadian Mother's Day, is celebrated in Anglican Churches on the Fourth Sunday in Lent. Learn more about Mothering Sunday, and get the recipe for Simnel Cake, a traditional Mothering Sunday treat!

AST 2023 Grad Projects

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AST Graduate Project Presentations 2023

Atlantic School of Theology has some of the brightest students around!

In Halifax or online on March 14 & 15 celebrating their work and cutting-edge research as part of graduate projects

​ Click here to register

Tuesday March 14, 2023

Compassion - 1:00-2:30 ADT

Stephanie Rose - Bridging the Gap: Practicing Infant Baptism in a Post-Christian Society

Catherine Ann Dickson - Who Do You Say I Am? Stories Women in Recovery Tell About Their Experiences of Church

Stacey Mortson - Remembering Whose We Are: Faith in the Face of Dementia

Relationship - 3:00-4:30 ADT

Michelle Robichaud - An Emptiness in My Belly: The Relationship Between Loneliness and Spirituality

Caitlin Smithers - Error 404 (building not found): Experiencing Christian Community Online

Jessie Crabtree - Kindred in the Spirit: Experiences of Friendship in Church Life

Wednesday, March 15

Justice - 1:00-2:30 ADT

Rhonda Schofield - Outside In: Exploring the Inner Workings of Outward-Facing Congregations

Damber Khadka - A Song for Everyone: Exploring Music for Worship in an Intercultural Church

Sarah Giles - Stepping Stones: Taking Indigenous Reconciliation from the Pews to the People

Pandemic - 3:00-4:30 ADT

Laura Rousseau - Unvaxxed and Uninvited: Christians Whose Communities Worshipped Without Them During a Pandemic

Kirsten Evenden - We've Never Done It That Way: Anglican Worship in Virtual Spaces

 

2023 Narrative Budget: Turning resources into grace

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Telling our story.
Line item budgets are boring. Not only that, but seldom do they tell the real story. It’s too easy for us to make assumptions about how the dollar we give is used or not used on what we specifically consider important. However, no facet of church ministry operates in a vacuum. For instance, music may be one’s own personal focus, but music cannot happen without a warm, dry and lighted space. In fact, if we think deeply, we begin to realize that in a very real way everything depends on everything else.

The 2023 Narrative Budget

Ad-LENT-ures 2023

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22 February - 01 April 2023

During the Season of Lent, all members of the Cathedral congregation are encouraged to consider individual or small group study or reflection. The 40 days of Lent are an excellent time to take on a discipline of deeper reflection on the Christian life, growing personally in discipleship as well as helping us grow as a community of Christian faith. (See BAS p. 282 and BCP p. 612)

MONDAYS ~ beginning 27 February

Afternoon Study Group
Book study of Let Me Go There: The Spirit of Lent by Paula Gooder -- the Archbishop's recommended study book for 2023. Come join the conversation(s) about Lenten themes such as wilderness, journey, prayer and fasting. Facilitated by Dean Geoffrey Hall. 2:00-3:15 p.m, in Cathedral Memorial Hall. RSVP.

*Note: The Bishop's Office will be hosting online gatherings exploring the same text, facilitated by Shawn Branch and Cheryl Jacobs. Online sessions will be hosted on Mondays at 12:00 noon and 7:00 p.m. Register through the Anglican Diocese of Fredericton website.

TUESDAYS ~ beginning 28 February

Art & Faith
An Ignatian-flavoured contemplative consideration of select works of sacred art. Hosted by Kurt Schmidt. 5:30-6:00pm, Drop-in online via Zoom. Link through the Cathedral calendar.

THURSDAYS ~ beginning 23 February

Taizé Thursdays
Ecumenical and contemplative services of worship that incorporate simple song, scripture and silence. 5:30-6:00pm, alternating formats -- online via Zoom and in-person/livestreamed from the Cathedral. Drop-in. Link through the Cathedral calendar or Cathedral YouTube channel. Curious about Taizé? Read about an online session and in-person Taizé at the Cathedral.

The Divine Comedy
Ongoing study group discussing Dante's classic poem. Hosted and led by Alan Hall and friends. 7:00-8:30 p.m, Hall Lounge. RSVP.

FRIDAYS ~ beginning 24 February

Stations of the Cross
Various versions of the ancient meditation on the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross). 12:00 noon, Cathedral. Drop-in.

SUNDAYS

The Chosen
Intergenerational screening of the recently released third season of The Chosen, the largest crowd-funded media project in history, portraying the life of Christ and the disciples. 6:00-8:00pm, Cathedral Memorial Hall. Popcorn provided!

 

Contact Facilitators and Join

Please contact the facilitators directly to: express interest / ask a question / register / RSVP. Take special note of online options. Flexibility in schedules and locations may be possible within given restraints.

Geoffrey Hall: email or phone (506) 450-7761 or the Cathedral Office
Cheryl Jacobs: email or phone (506) 459-5795 or the Cathedral Office
Alan Hall: email or phone (506) 443-0196 or the Cathedral Office
Kurt Schmidt: email or phone (506) 259-3711 or the Cathedral Office