It’s not too soon to start thinking about Urbana, a missions conference for 16,000 students, ministry leaders and missions organizations from around the world. This year’s theme is Discern your place in God’s global mission.
University students from Fredericton, including young people from the cathedral, have attended past conferences which feature internationally known speakers, worship, music in many languages, and more than 200 seminars. Organized by the Inter-varsity Christian Fellowship for over 70 years, it’s held every three years in St. Louis, Missouri. The next one will take place Dec. 27-31, 2018.
“It’s an eye-opening, cross-cultural experience and an opportunity to delve deeply into the Bible,” said Brad McKnight from the cathedral’s Missions Committee. “Students are challenged to listen and learn from global voices. As the participants pray with power and build connections, it can be transformational.”
Registration is now open. More information can be found by searching Urbana Missions on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, on the web at urbana.org and on You Tube.
University of Belize scholarship student, Amieka Myers, will officially graduate on Saturday, June 16th. Our church has been sponsoring her since she finished Grade 8 (Standard 6) at St. Hilda’s School. She has persevered despite many difficulties and has accomplished what has never been done before in her family. They, as well as we here at Christ Church Cathedral, are very proud of her.
Hi Ms. Bev,
First of all, I want to extend a huge thank you to you and your church for the assistance with my graduation that’s coming up so soon.
I’m happy everything has worked out regarding the graduation. I will stop by at UB to see Mr. Palma and pick up the graduation regalia tomorrow morning.
I’m not sure who I’m going to invite but my mom is definitely a part of the invite list. I wish you were near to experience this moment with me; nonetheless, I know you will be here in spirit. I will send you some pictures so you can see what it looks like.
Once again, thank you and your church for all the kindness you guys bestowed upon me and my family throughout my educational journey. It is truly a blessing!!
University of Belize scholarship student, Amieka Myers, will officially graduate on Saturday, June 16th. Our church has been sponsoring her since she finished Grade 8 (Standard 6) at St. Hilda’s School. She has persevered despite many difficulties and has accomplished what has never been done before in her family. They, as well as we here at Christ Church Cathedral, are very proud of her.
Hi Ms. Bev,
First of all, I want to extend a huge thank you to you and your church for the assistance with my graduation that’s coming up so soon.
I’m happy everything has worked out regarding the graduation. I will stop by at UB to see Mr. Palma and pick up the graduation regalia tomorrow morning.
I’m not sure who I’m going to invite but my mom is definitely a part of the invite list. I wish you were near to experience this moment with me; nonetheless, I know you will be here in spirit. I will send you some pictures so you can see what it looks like.
Once again, thank you and your church for all the kindness you guys bestowed upon me and my family throughout my educational journey. It is truly a blessing!!
Three outreach drop-ins will be held during summer 2018
Are you looking for an opportunity to put BELLS into action?
Monday Morning Dropin guests and crew
The cathedral's Outreach Committee is offering three possibilities this summer. Its Monday morning drop-ins for people in need usually run from mid-September until mid-May, and then the volunteers take a well-earned summer break. This summer, though, drop-ins will be held at the hall on three Mondays from 8:30 to 10 a.m.: June 18, July 16, August 13.
“The book we're reading throughout the diocese is urging us to develop missional habits nicknamed BELLS: blessing, eating, learning, listening and sending,” said Ann Deveau, an organizer of the Monday drop-ins. “We're hoping some folks will want to step up and help us with these three extra drop-ins as a way to bless those less fortunate and to build community.”
Ways to help include setting up or cleaning up, baking muffins, providing fruit, bringing doughnuts, chatting and eating with guests, playing live music, doing dishes.
We're hoping some folks will want to step up and help us with these three extra drop-ins
The parish nurse plans to do blood pressure and blood glucose readings for guests on these dates and on several other Mondays this summer. A couple of volunteers might offer to take the guests across the street for a tour of the cathedral with one of the cathedral's summer tour guides.
The guests are delighted the drop-ins will take place monthly during the summer. As volunteer Sandy Robb put it: “People are poor in the summer, too, and appreciate the gift cards or bus tickets. Normally, all the churches downtown stop their outreach programs due to summer holidays. This year it's nice that people can still come and keep in touch with their friends.”
Please contact outreach chair Penny Ericson or committee member Ann Deveau if you can help with plans for June 18th, July 16th or August 13th.
“If anyone can prepare food or attend any of the three sessions, it would be a wonderful way to put your faith into action,” Ann said. “It could also give the usual volunteers a rest which would be its own blessing. We also appreciate your prayers for the success of this summer project.”
The Health/Parish Nurse ministries are pleased to distribute a "File of Life" packet for use in your homes.
The packet consists of a small red plastic envelope which can be placed on your fridge door to alert anyone of your health history, current medications, and basic health information in case of an emergency. A medical information sheet will be given to you for completion; this sheet may be placed in the envelope on your refridgerator. Update the file every 6 months or so.
Contact Kathleen Snow at (506) 461-8201 or <nurse at christchurchcathedral.com> for information.
The City of FrederictonUnsung Hero Awards are meant to acknowledge those individuals who go above and beyond to help build and shape their community. This includes helping bolster the work of social groups and organizations that offer recreational, cultural, or charitable services to the community.
Penny Ericson, Fredericton South MLA David Coon and Sandy Robb
Sandy Robb, one of our volunteers with the Monday Morning Drop in, recently became an Unsung Hero recipient.
The photo is of Sandy, a formerly homeless woman. The award, given to eight people this year, acknowledges individuals who go above and beyond to shape a more compassionate and welcoming community. Among those who congratulated Sandy following the ceremony were Penny Ericson, chair of the Cathedral's Outreach Committee, and Fredericton South MLA David Coon.
The City web site says: "The Intercultural Award is given to an individual, group, or organization whose actions have contributed to promoting cultural diversity and have helped newcomers integrate into the community at large here in Fredericton."
“The Missions Committee would like to thank Beverly Morell for her leadership in the Belize Ministry. Over the past 10 years she has willingly devoted herself to the many tasks involved in this role, and we are very grateful for her leadership.
The four members of the 2018 mission team who will be assuming Beverly’s duties are Rebecca Butler, Caryn Gunter, Kelley Hall and Carol Ann Melvin. We wish them success in their new roles.”
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!” ~ Isaiah 6:8 (NRSV)
The living God of the Bible is a sending God, which is what ‘mission’ means. He sent the prophets to Israel. He sent his son into the world… He also sent the Spirit to the church and sends him into our hearts today. ~ John Stott, Authentic Christianity, (1995), p. 315
~Gregg Finley, on behalf of the Missions Committee
SHINY KITCHEN – Kathy McBride (centre), chair of the cathedral's kitchen committee, chats with Linda Waugh (left) and Mary Allwood (right) from the ACW who were preparing to serve refreshments following a presentation. They appreciated the recent seasonal cleaning of the kitchen at the church hall by the “Holy Joes.”
The kitchen at the Cathedral church hall is spick and span, and the aim is to keep it that way.
A team from the Guild of St. Joseph recently tackled the greasy stove vent; cleaned the refrigerator, microwave, and two stoves including ovens; scrubbed three sinks; wiped down all the cupboard faces; washed the windows; tidied the drawers and cupboards; checked the dishwasher, and disinfected the counter tops. The freezer will be defrosted shortly.
“Our kitchen is a big, beautiful workspace which is used frequently for shared meals and preparation of light refreshments,” Kathy McBride, chair of the cathedral's kitchen committee, said. “Users are good about keeping it tidy from one event to the other, but a thorough cleaning is done three or four times a year.”
The committee, which meets monthly to ensure a clean, safe, efficient kitchen,has come up with a few tips for users to follow. For example:Always rinse your coffee cups and dishes if you don't have time to run them through the dishwasher.
Always date and label any items that you store in the refrigerator or freezer.
Don't leave any items uncovered in the fridge (e.g., dish of margarine, pitcher of milk, etc.)
At the end of each event, fill out the kitchen departure checklist. It's in a sparkly pink binder in a top drawer near the serving window.
The one-page checklist offers a quick run-through of important points, such as is the dishwasher turned off, is the door locked, who is laundering the dirty dishcloths?
“As a committee, we review the entries in the binder regularly,” Kathy said. “Has someone reported that we're running low on vinyl gloves? Do we need to replace a broken teapot? Of course, anything more urgent, such as a plugged sink, should be reported to the sexton or the office at once.”
Kathy said the kitchen is usually kept tidy, but the tips have been posted on the fridge as reminders and for the benefit of occasional or external users of the facility.
“It's about common sense and pride in our kitchen,” she concluded. “We appreciate everyone helping to keep the kitchen clean and safe for all to enjoy.”
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!
It’s not too soon to start thinking about Urbana, a missions conference for 16,000 students, ministry leaders and missions organizations from around the world. This year’s theme is Discern your place in God’s global mission.
