Category Archives: Ministry

Back to School in Belize

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As another year begins at St. Hilda's Anglican Elementary School, the Belize Mission committee acknowledges the hard work and dedication of the teachers. May they and the students have a positive start to this new school year. Please keep them in your prayers.

Please also remember in your prayers our Cathedral high school scholarship students, Korey Kelly (grade 12), Caleb Martinez (grade 11), Sylvia Trapp (grade 10), and new scholarship recipient, Amalio Revolorio, who is entering grade 9.

Are you familiar with the story of how the Cathedral congregation became involved in Belize, and why we offer a scholarship program for high school tuition? Read on!

About the Cathedral's Belize High School Scholarship Program

In Belize, the average age at which a child leaves school is 13 years old, because of the prohibitive costs of tuition for high school. High school is not publicly funded in Belize, and many families do not have the financial ability to pay for their children to attend. Unemployment in the country is high, there are many large single-parent families, and almost half of Belizeans live below the poverty line.

Currently, the congregation of Christ Church Cathedral provides scholarships for four students who would not able to attend high school without support. Each scholarship is $1000 CAD per year, and we currently support one student in each of the four grades of high school. This additional education provides the teenagers with important skills and opportunities which can improve their lives.

The Cathedral has a special relationship with the staff and students of St. Hilda’s Anglican School, an elementary in the rural village of Georgeville. Over two hundred children attend the school, ranging between kindergarten and grade 8, in addition to a recently established preschool.

Cathedral teams have travelled to Belize five times: in 2005, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2018. Over 60 Cathedral members ranging in age from 15 to 79 have participated in a mission trip to Belize, and hundreds of people in Fredericton have supported the work at St. Hilda's through organizational support, donations and prayers.

In 2010, Cathedral mission team members established a high school scholarship program which has allowed students from St. Hilda’s to apply for a scholarship to continue their education past grade 8. Some of the graduates supported by the Cathedral have continued on to post-secondary education, and all have gained knowledge and experience that will help them in their future.

We are grateful for all who have helped to provide scholarships for these teenagers, and support for programs at the elementary school. Learn more about our mission work in Belize.

You can contribute to the mission in Belize through offering envelopes or donate online.

If you are interested in participating in future endeavors benefiting the students in Belize, please contact the Cathedral Office to connect with members of the Belize mission committee.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

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The Cathedral's Prayer Shawl Ministry began in 2006 during the early stages of the Parish Nurse and Health Ministry. It was under the leadership of the late Wendy Brien, and she soon invited Marilyn Lewell to join her in making the shawls.

Prayer Shawl Ministries exist worldwide, and provide shawls free of charge to anyone who requests one. We make them primarily for those who are undergoing stress in their lives, usually for health reasons, but we have made them for happy occasions as well, such as weddings and births. Since these are for the women, our team decided to make soft fleece blankets for men. They are washable and cozy, and provide much comfort.

Since the Cathedral Prayer Shawl Ministry began, we have made almost 300 shawls, and 82 blankets for all ages and genders. They are wrapped in tissue and presented in a gift bag, accompanied by appropriate, beautiful prayers. Some families have even buried them with their loved ones or wrapped the shawl around the urn during a funeral service.

If you know of anyone who would benefit from a shawl or blanket, please contact the Cathedral Office or the Dean.

Unfortunately, we have lost our team of crafters, and Marilyn Lewell is currently the sole maker of blankets and shawls. If you wish to become a knitter, crocheter, or blanket maker for the Prayer Shawl Ministry, or donate to the cost of the yarn and/or fleece, please let the Office know.

- by Marilyn Lewell

Updates from our scholarship students

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Here are some letters from the current recipients of Cathedral scholarships. Three students are currently receiving scholarships to attend high school in Belize. Their school year ended in June, and we received report cards and letters from each student. They are very thankful for the support of the congregation. Read their letters below, and scroll down to learn more about the scholarship program and how you can help.

Sylvia Trapp (recently completed Grade 9)

Dear Friends:

I am writing to thank you for your financial support. This year had many challenges, but I overcame them. I studied hard to achieve the top of my class and plan on working harder to achieve my educational goals. I also tried to be as friendly as possible to anyone I meet and I care deeply for my best friends that I met this year. I'm grateful for having friends who push me to go further. I also tried to participate as much as I can in school activities such as the Christmas event, harvest dance and the children's day activities. I am truly grateful for your support with my educational journey. I have been promoted to second form and I will try as hard as possible to come in first place again. I'm looking forward to you continuous support. Thank you.

Yours truly,

Silvia Trapp

Caleb Martinez (recently completed Grade 10)

Dear friends of St. Hilda's.

The school year has ended and all the grades are in, it has been a roller coaster journey at Belmopan Comprehensive High School.

In cycle #1 I struggled getting back familiar with waking up early and going to bed late. In the class, some of the new math concepts were more challenging than others so there was an up and down of my grade for math. Also with some new students in my class I was being distracted a lot because of the noise but I asked my homeroom teacher to move me so I can focus on my school work.

In cycle #2 I paid more attention in class and studied more and all-in-all just focusing on my work. And as I said in the previous letter, I said that I was going to join the school track and field team, at regionals I came in 4th in the 100 meter dash and 4th in the 200 meter dash and next year I plan to continue athletics.

As for the subject that I will be majoring in next year, I'll be taking arts because for my job career I plan to work in the TV industry.

Lastly, I can’t thank you enough for this scholarship as it has been the key to all my obstacles in my academic career.

May you have a wonderful day, friends of St. Hilda’s.

Caleb

Korey Kelly (recently completed Grade 11)

Greetings Friends,

I hope everyone is doing great and enjoying their year. I am entering a new year of school and I am continuously grateful for the help you have offeredme in acquiring my education.

I will be moving on to 4th form even though I had a bit of a rough last semester ending up having to take summer classes for English. During Summer Classes my grades in English have improved. I have to say I believe it is due to me paying more attention in class and listening to the teacher when she teaches. I think and hope that I will perform better in English class when I enter 4th form.

Again, I am very thankful for the scholarship that you gave to me which helped to lessen my mom’s burden.

Korey

About the Cathedral's Belize High School Scholarship Program

Currently, the congregation of Christ Church Cathedral provides scholarships for three students who would not able to attend high school without support, since high school is not publicly funded in Belize. This additional education provides them with important skills and opportunities. Each scholarship is $1000 CAD per year. We intend to provide a scholarship to a student entering high school in September, so we will again be supporting one student in each grade.

In Belize, the average age at which a child leaves school is 13 years old, because of the prohibitive costs of tuition for high school, which families must pay. Unemployment in the country is high, there are many large single-parent families, and almost half of Belizeans live below the poverty line.

The Cathedral has a special relationship with the staff and students of St. Hilda’s Anglican School, an elementary in the rural village of Georgeville. Over two hundred children attend the school, ranging between kindergarten and grade 8, in addition to a recently established preschool.

Cathedral teams have travelled to Belize five times: in 2005, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2018. Over 60 Cathedral members ranging in age from 15 to 79 have participated in a mission trip to Belize, and hundreds of people in Fredericton have supported the work at St. Hilda's through organizational support, donations and prayers.

In 2010, Cathedral mission team members established a high school scholarship program which has allowed students from St. Hilda’s to apply for a scholarship to continue their education past grade 8. Some of the graduates supported by the Cathedral have gone on to post-secondary education, and all have gained knowledge and experience that will help them in their future.

We are grateful for all who have helped to provide scholarships for these teenagers, and support for programs at the elementary school. Learn more about our mission work in Belize.

You can contribute to the mission in Belize through offering envelopes or donate online.

If you are interested in participating in future endeavors benefiting the students in Belize, please contact the Cathedral Office to connect with members of the Belize mission committee.

Who was Elizabeth Scovill?

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Many Anglicans in the Diocese will know the name Pickett-Scovil, but did you ever wonder who these people were?

In our Diocese, the Pickett-Scovil Memorial Fund, administered by the Anglican Church Women (ACW), assists retired clergy and widow(ers) with dental and medical expenses not covered by medical plans and Medicare.

Elizabeth Scovil, a nurse, started the fund in 1910 with friend and fellow nurse Lucy Vail Pickett, and...

* * *

Read the full article, written by Gisele McKnight and published on the NB Anglican website on July 9, 2024.

Certificate in Stewardship – Atlantic School of Theology

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Atlantic School of Theology

Who is This For?

AST’s Certificate in Stewardship is available to anyone. People who work or volunteer in the charitable sector, non-profits, university, government, education, church, and other fields will benefit, as well as anyone who would simply like to do some learning and personal growth. As long as you have Internet access and a device that allows you to open a document, watch videos, and prepare a short final assignment, you can take this program.

Course Delivery: Entirely Online OR In-Person in a local setting

The seven modules of the Certificate in Stewardship can be taken in one of the following ways:

  • As an Individual. Learn at your own pace. You could complete the program over several weeks, in a weekend, or over the course of a week. It’s up to you. When you enroll, you will receive a workbook that will tell you clearly how to access all the learning materials.
  • As Part of the AST Stewardship Cohort. Over the course of 7 weeks in Winter 2025, join with other learners and a facilitator to go through the 7 modules, one per week, “live” in real time over the Internet. When you enroll, you will receive a workbook that will tell you clearly how to access all the learning materials. The start date, day of the week, and facilitator of the AST Stewardship Cohort will be identified in September.
  • As Part of a Local Learning Group. Organize a group in your local area to learn together. You will need a designated leader to register and organize the group. The designated learner could be a manager, minister, priest, or volunteer with strong group facilitation skills. Note: Local Learning Groups are self-directed without instructional support from AST.

Certificate in Stewardship Program Structure and Timeline

You may start the Certificate in Stewardship at any time as an Individual Learner. There is no set time limit for completing the Certificate, but a maximum of four months is recommended.

Those in the AST Cohort will start the program in Winter 2025 (date to be confirmed) and continue together for 7 weeks.

Local Learning Groups may be organized and start at any time, according to the timeframe determined by the designated leader.

The seven program components of this Certificate are Time, Talent, Trust, Treasure, Terrain, Theology, and Thanks. For each component, there is a module that includes:

  • Pre-recorded video teaching materials (one hour per module)
  • A list of recommended materials for further learning
  • Reflection questions (or discussion questions for group settings)
  • A final integrative assignment (written or video)

Your final assignment must be submitted to AST to receive the Certificate. The assignment is graded on a Pass/Fail basis, and you will receive constructive feedback. If the final assignment is submitted before April 1, you will receive your Certificate at AST’s Annual Spring Convocation. If you are unable to attend Convocation, your Certificate will be mailed to you.

The total time investment to complete the Certificate in Stewardship is approximately 30 hours. However, learners may progress as varying rates.

Admissions Requirements

  • Anyone is welcome to enrol in the Certificate in Stewardship. AST recommends a minimum age of 16 years. No prior learning credential is required.

Registration Process

To register for AST’s Certificate in Stewardship, please complete one of the following forms and submit to James Cheatley: [email protected]. The appropriate fee should be paid through the AST Business Office, as explained on the application form.

Certificate in Stewardship Program Fees

  • Individual Learners: $600 per person
  • AST Stewardship Cohort Participants: $600 per person
  • Local Learning Group: $1,000 per group (individual rates do not apply) for a group of any size

Financial Aid

  • Some employers, congregations, parishes, or other denominational bodies will sponsor or assist with your fees and expenses. Please make your own inquiries to these groups.

For clarification or assistance in registering

  • Please contact AST’s Continuing Education Convener, James Cheatley: [email protected]

More Information

  • For information about AST’s other programs, please contact our Recruitment Coordinator: [email protected]

Atlantic School of Theology Certificate in Stewardship

Science fair at St. Hilda’s

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Our friends at St. Hilda's Anglican School in Belize have been hard at work and sharing their findings during a recent science fair. Principal Ms. Jane Martinez sent us a note with a few photos. Please continue to pray for her, the rest of the teachers, the students, and families.

Hi Kelley,

I pray that all is well with you, your family and the church family. I’m just sharing some pictures from our Science fair that we had yesterday. It was short notice but students and teachers worked hard to prepare.

We are almost at the end of the school year and I am looking forward to vacation time. It has been a very challenging year for me personally and as the school administrator. There were teachers absent due to illness so I spent a lot of time juggling teaching and administration.

I just wanted to say hi and hope that you are all doing well. Thank you for your continued prayers and support for St. Hilda’s Anglican School.

Best,
Jane

You can contribute to the mission in Belize through offering envelopes or donate online. We provide funds to St. Hilda's Anglican [elementary] School each year, and we provide scholarships for students interested in pursuing high school. Learn more about our mission work in Belize.

If you are interested in participating in future endeavors benefiting the students in Belize, please contact the Cathedral Office to connect with members of the Belize mission committee.

Resources for the Indigenous Day of Prayer – 21 June

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Are you planning worship for your congregation to mark National Indigenous Day of Prayer, June 21? We have resources you can download:

Propers for National Indigenous Day of Prayer are available in English, French, Inuktitut and Western Cree. On this page, you will also find additional suggestions for readings and hymns.

The resource Worship in the Vision of New Agape (2004) contains a full order of service for National Indigenous Day of Prayer (begins on page 50 of the PDF), as well as prayers, biblical reflections and hymn suggestions.

Finally, Honouring the Four Directions is a prayer resource based on the colours of the medicine wheel.

Summer Outreach

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The Cathedral's monthly Outreach Program is an initiative that helps many people in our community.

On the last Monday of each month, people in need are invited to visit Cathedral Memorial Hall. They receive a $10 grocery store gift card or bus tickets and a goodie bag containing fresh fruit, baked goods, a drink, a sandwich, and treats. Guests can also choose from a selection of non-perishable grocery items. Several tables contain gently used clothing and footwear, toiletries and small housewares, which are available free of charge.

The need in our community is great, and volunteers typically help between 50-70 guests at each gathering. Similar events to help people in need will be held on the last Monday of the month throughout the summer.

The program would not be possible without the assistance of many volunteers from the Cathedral and other churches who help onsite or with advance preparation, and those who assist with baking, or donate items or funds. We sincerely appreciate your assistance!

UPDATE: a request fulfilled!
Lately we have been asked for children's clothes, but until recently, we had a very limited supply. Thanks to donations from the cathedral family and the neighbourhood, volunteers filled a table with clothes, toys and art supplies for children at the 24 June outreach event. Parents among the 61 guests were grateful for these items.

Below: Cathedral volunteers Charlotte and Sharon display some of the donations received.

Learn more about the Outreach Program from our archive of articles.

2024 Memorial Hall Stair lift project

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At the direction of Bishop and Chapter we're moving forward on a project to replace the north entrance stair lift at Memorial Hall. At the moment, we're inaccessible for those confined to a wheelchair or unable to negotiate the stairs. Our hope is installation by the end of summer. The approximate cost is $30,000. We've had indications of support from both the Diocesan Synod and the Guild of St. Joseph. Contributions are being both encouraged and requested and will receive the usual receipt for income tax purposes.

The installation contract was awarded to Lawtons Home Health Care, Halifax for the commercial-grade Garaventa lift Xpress II.

Xpress II - inclined platform

The Garaventa lift Xpress II inclined platform wheelchair lift is designed to provide economical access between two landings.

The platform travels on two rails which are secured directly to the wall or to support towers and is propelled by means of a carriage-mounted rack and pinion drive system. When the platform is not in use it is folded, taking up minimal space on the stairway.

The Xpress II is cost-effective and is ADA compliant. With a variety of standard and optional features available, it can be designed to suit the needs of the user and building owner.

Product details here.

Saying YES! to kids camping

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Say Yes to Kids Camping

THREE CAMPS, ONE UNFORGETTABLE SUMMER!

This year the Diocese of Fredericton is joining the Anglican Foundation of Canada's Say Yes! to Kids movement with our very own Diocese of Fredericton Says Yes! to Camping Ministry fundraising team.

The Diocese of Fredericton is blessed with Camp Medley, Camp Brookwood, and the St. Michael’s Youth Conference, all of which offer our children and youth unforgettable summer experiences in God's creation.

In our Diocese we believe that no child should be turned away from summer camp because of their financial circumstances. It is hoped that with participation from people and parishes across the Diocese of Fredericton, this year’s Say Yes! to Kids campaign will encourage camperism by increasing the amount of sponsorship funds available to all three camps.

Join our Diocesan family as we seek to make the summer 2024 camping season as accessible and enjoyable to as many children as possible.

You can support the Diocese of Fredericton Says Yes! to Camping Ministry team in three ways:

  • Celebrate a Say Yes! to Kids Sunday in your church on June 2, or any other Sunday in June, with the help of the liturgical resource developed by AFC.
  • Make a donation to our Diocese of Fredericton Says Yes! to Camping Ministry team. DONATE ONLINE HERE.
  • Pray for the success of this year's Say Yes! to Kids campaign and for youth ministries in your community, in our diocese, and across the Anglican Church of Canada.

Please give generously to the Diocese of Fredericton Says Yes! to Camping Ministry today and help to grow a brighter future for young people in the Diocese of Fredericton and beyond.

Thank you!

Archbishop David Edwards
Bishop of Fredericton

P.S. You can also mail a cheque, payable to the Anglican Foundation of Canada, with "Fredericton Says Yes!" in the memo line to the address below. Or watch for your Spring AFC newsletter and make your donation using the donation form and business reply envelope.