The ministry of deacon: servant ministry of the whole church

Posted on May 22, 2019October 22, 2023

The Anglican Church officially recognizes three orders of ministry: bishop, priest and deacon. These “ordered” ministries each have their own function and character. Bishops are called to be the “overseer” in the diocese. Priests are called to “sacramental, preaching and teaching” ministries. Deacons are called to personify the servant church in the secular world.

Perhaps it goes without saying that deacons are not priests. Through the history of the Church, priests, have been ordained deacon (often recognized for a time as a “transitional deacon”) and most claim the responsibilities of that order in addition to the priestly role and function. A “vocational deacon” is not seeking further ordination, is not called to be a priest — it is a permanent ministry.

Many deacons are employed in (or retired from) a secular service-related profession or career, having that important connection enabling bridging the Church and the world. Because the deacon is often employed, their ministry in the church is non-stipendiary and limited to the time available. Expenses are usually determined on an individual basis, but generally include those directly resulting from ministry duties and allowances for continuing education.

The ministry of a (vocational) deacon is primarily a ministry of service. It exercises the ministry of Christ to those beyond church walls by serving as a catalyst, encourager, and guide for lay members engaged in outreach ministries. Deacons also assist bishops and priests in proclaiming the Gospel message and in the administration of the Sacraments.

Liturgically, elements of worship usually reserved for the deacon are: proclaiming the Gospel, prayer, preparing the eucharistic table and the Dismissal – all symbolic of the function to which they are called. In worship, deacons can be identified by their wearing a stole over the left shoulder.

By word and example, deacons are to make the redemptive love of Christ known in the places in which they live, work, and worship. By virtue of their call, they are prophetic leaders who challenge the Church to always look beyond itself. They are the living models that illuminate Christ as the model of servanthood.

Deacons are servant leaders who have a visibility to the needy and are intended to strengthen the servant ministry of the Anglican Church in the Diocese of Fredericton. Appointed by the Bishop, they operate under the supervision of the incumbent priest. Before an appointment is made, a covenant is created outlining the parameters of the ministry with the requirement that it be renewed regularly.

The ministry of deacon is carried out in five different, but interdependent ways:

• to model servant ministry in the workplace;
• to enable the servant ministry of the Church;
• to witness to the Gospel, articulating that this is a ministry of the whole Christian Church;
• to interpret to the Church the needs, hopes, and concerns of the local secular community; and
• to assist bishops and priests in the liturgical and sacramental life of the Church.

For more information:
See the Ordination of a Deacon, Book of Alternative Services, p. 652 or
The Diaconate: Anglican Church of Canada

It starts with a warm-up

Posted on May 20, 2019June 28, 2019

“Okay everybody. On your feet. Let's do a little warm-up, shall we?”

And with that, 45 self-professed I-can't-sing singers rise to their feet to follow Christ Church Cathedral's director of music, David Drinkell, as he has them shake out their hands, relax their necks, suck in their guts, and lower their shoulders. Then comes the vocalization exercises: humming and me, me, meing up and down the scales. “You should feel it between your eyes, just where your glasses sit, for those of you who wear glasses.” Apparently those sinus cavities you curse when you have a cold are what helps sound resonate when you sing; who knew?

With the exercises over, David has the Paper Baggers “rocking, rolling, riding, out a-long the bay,” on the “Morningtown Ride,” an easy song to warm up with and familiar to most everyone there. Then came the main event: “American Pie,” a song we all know and love and which turned out to be more difficult to sing than we'd thought. “Up you go!” shouts David over the sound of the grand piano, encouraging everyone to, again, suck in those guts and raise the eyebrows, both of them, to hit those high notes; amazingly, it does work. And no, we didn't sing the whole eight minutes and 36 seconds; maybe just as well. Thankfully, “Yesterday” proved an easier sing. “Well done; you sound quite good.”

Then it was time for a break and some socializing. Little knots of people developed around the room as friends, old and new, chatted away; a congenial group of people who love to sing, but who thought, or were told, they couldn't sing, along with a few who do sing in choirs, but who come to Paper Bag Singers so they can sing just for the fun of it.

We welcome people of all ages and singing talent.

And so the evening went, as have the four previous sing togethers: warm-up; sing two or three songs a number of times each; take a break; sing a few more songs, some new, some repeats; and wrap up with one more crack at a particular song. Interspersed though the evening are David's tips on how to sing particular passages as well as his wonderful stories garnered from his years of working with choirs and schools across Britain and his time in Newfoundland.

So join us, won't you. Only two more events this season: Monday, May 27th and Monday, June 10th. We welcome people of all ages and singing talent. We sing mostly the music we grew up with – all you flower children out there – and some we might not be so familiar with – always good to learn new things. Paper Bag Singers: it's all about having fun together. And oh yes, we did take a last crack at “American Pie” – we won.

Visit our Meetup page, view photos, and more.

For questions or more information: <paperbagsingers at gmail.com>.

Lynn Melanson

The Sacrament of Holy Unction

Posted on May 9, 2019October 9, 2019

Music Monthly – May 2019

Posted on April 28, 2019May 17, 2019

5 May - Third Sunday of Easter

10.00: Choral Eucharist (BAS)
Let us worship and fall down - Willan
Missa Secunda - Hassler
Psalm 30
Exsultate justi - Viadana
217, 432, 337, 61, 438
Dance Suite (1st movement) - Ridout

4.00: Choral Evensong (BCP)
Smith Responses
Psalms 114 and 115
Sumsion in G
Blessed be the God and Father - S.S. Wesley
23, 498, 215
Sarabande for the Morning of Easter - Howells

12 May - Fourth Sunday of Easter

10.00: Choral Eucharist (BCP)
Almighty God, which hast me brought - Ford
Missa O Westron Wynde - Willan
Psalm 23
Come, let’s rejoice - Amner
444, 364, 486, 555, 216
Praeludium in C - Böhm

19 May - Fifth Sunday of Easter

10.00: Choral Eucharist (BAS)
If ye love me - Tallis (CHECK)
Wood in C minor
Psalm 148
And I saw a new heaven - Bainton
8, 341, 109, 60, 300
Prelude & Fugue in modo dorico BWV 538 - Bach

26 May - Sixth Sunday of Easter

10.00: Choral Eucharist (BCP)
Jesu, the very thought of thee - Bairstow
Fredericton Missa Brevis - Murray
Psalm 67
I will not leave you comfortless - Titcomb
207, 385, 278, 596, 239
Toc-cat-a (Cat Suite) - Bédard

Thursday 30 May - Ascension Day

7.30pm: Choral Eucharist (BCP)
Batten’s Short Service
Psalm 47
O God, the King of glory - Purcell
245, 246(374), 486
Prelude on Hyfrydol - Vaughan Williams

2019 Easter Pastoral Letter

Posted on April 11, 2019April 22, 2019

View or download the PDF HERE

Lent 2019

Dear Friends in Christ,

Each year I add to the number describing the time since my birth, and it seems increasingly also the pronounced sincerity of my sigh of relief and prayers of thanksgiving that the long wait of winter is coming to an end. I look forward to summer each year and somehow even make unrealistic presumptions that winter is over for good. In any case, the long New Brunswick winter this year, now stretching into six months, shows signs of receding as days brighten and temperatures moderate one more time.

Seasonal rhythms, many would say, significantly enrich the experience of living where we do. The rhythms of the church seasons provide a similar spiritual experience as we, with the days of the calendar, walk through the life of our Lord each year. As we approach the end of another forty days of Lent, just over the horizon we see the first glimmer of light in the promises of Easter.

While that hope of resurrection, to which Jesus often alluded, is found in the shadows of the burial garden on Easter Day, there is another source of those hopeful beams. We most often think of the darkness of the hour of crucifixion the most intense of history. But the light that shines from the dark wood of the Cross is among the brightest. It is the reason, in the Christian tradition, that we are able to describe a terrible Friday as “Good.” The price paid on the Golgotha hill is what makes the suffering of life in the world worthwhile. Even though we struggle, like enduring the cold and windy days of winter, there is a brighter, warmer light in our future. Eternal life is evident, even in the Cross of Death. “I know that my redeemer lives!” said Job.

That’s the miracle expressed in the narratives of Holy Week and Easter. You’re invited once again to join in the walk toward Jerusalem and to hear both the shouts of Palm Sunday and the whispers of early Easter morn – the first suggestion that Jesus is alive, just as he has promised. Because he lives, we too will live, and continue even into eternity with him.

The schedule of Easter seasonal worship is included here. You’re encouraged to celebrate with us to the extent that you are able, and breath once again that sigh of relief that comes from knowing that our Lord lives!

Sincerely,

Geoffrey Hall (The Very Rev’d)
Dean of Fredericton
GMH

Holy Week and Easter 2019
Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton NB

Monday - Thursday: 8:45 Morning Prayer and 4:45 Evening Prayer
The Holy Eucharist on 20 April is the first of Easter

Passion/Palm Sunday
(14 April 2019)

8:00 a.m. Liturgy of the Palms and Holy Eucharist
10:00 a.m. Liturgy of the Palms, Dramatic Passion and Holy Eucharist
11:45 a.m. Blessing of Palms and Come Worship Eucharist

Monday

5:15 p.m. Holy Eucharist

Tuesday

5:15 p.m. Holy Eucharist

Wednesday

10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
5:15 p.m. Holy Eucharist
7:30 p.m. Tenebrae - Liturgy of Shadows (Traditional)

Maundy Thursday

11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Ministry Vows and Blessing of Oils
5:45 p.m. Maundy Thursday Shared Meal (Memorial Hall)
7:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist and Stripping of the Sanctuary

Good Friday

10:00 a.m. Celebration of the Lord's Passion

Easter Eve
(20 April 2019)

8:00 p.m. The Great Vigil of Easter, Renewal of Baptism and Eucharist

Easter Day
(21 April 2019)

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
11:45 a.m. Come Worship Eucharist

Why we do what we do – Translating the Bible

Posted on April 10, 2019May 9, 2019

The Holy Bible is a compilation of various writings over many centuries, eventually agreed upon by the historical Christian Church to be included in the “canon of scripture.” The books included have been carefully curated and believed to be the holy word of God. WikipediA states that, as of October 2017, the full Bible has been translated into 670 languages, the New Testament into 1,521 languages and Bible portions or stories into 1,121 other languages.

Apart from what writings are and are not included in the canon is the matter of translation into modern English of texts originally written in various ancient languages including Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, Latin and. variations of those depending on the time and location.

The issue of translation, as one might imagine, becomes significantly complicated. A translator (or translators) need to determine what rules are being followed in expressing ancient words in modern ways. Is the policy dynamic or formal? Is it a word for word translation or is an overall sense of meaning the goal? How do current understandings, cultural influences of time and place influence the task of understanding these texts impact how they are placed on the modern page?

A word that meant one thing in the Middle Ages can mean something quite different in the 21^st century.

Readers of biblical texts will often gain important perspective when returning to the original languages to decipher the literal “word” of God being uttered. This makes the study of the ancient languages an invaluable tool in the task of interpretation. But nuance of language, both ancient and modern, make this a time consuming endeavour. A word that meant one thing in the Middle Ages can mean something quite different in the 21^st century. All of these factors makes accurately translating and interpreting holy scripture challenging indeed. Often comparing one translation with others can help in gaining a wider understanding of a specific concept.

The Anglican Church tends to rely primarily on translations considered to exhibit a great degree of agreement among scholars, leaning more toward word for word translations than those depending on cultural idiom and nuance. Bishops of Anglican dioceses throughout the world authorize the scriptural translations to be used in public worship. In the Diocese of Fredericton, and generally in the Anglican Church of Canada, the preferred biblical translation is the New Revised Standard Version, but an entire list can be found as a Bishop’s Directive . (1. General Liturgy and Worship –> 1.4 Biblical Translations Recommended for Public Reading) The NRSV is a modern example and product several decades in the making with various versions having been produced during its development. It generally holds to a policy of literal translation while paying attention to current acceptable linguistic expression in terms of gender neutrality.

There have been many popular bible translations in recent decades. Some may remember the Good News Bible or Eugene Peterson’s The Message, each having been looked upon as Bibles “friendly to the ear.” Difficulties that present themselves with popular versions of biblical texts are often both theological and doctrinal. Do these versions of scripture agree with official doctrinal (teaching) positions of the Church and/or specific denominational expressions of that church body?

Read more about bible translations on WikipediA: Bible translations

GMH

Music Monthly – April 2019

Posted on April 6, 2019April 22, 2019

Sunday 7 April 2019 - Fifth Sunday in Lent

10.00: Choral Eucharist (BAS)
O come, ye servants of the Lord - Tye
Mass of St. Denis - Cabena
Psalm 126
Tantum ergo sacramentum - Séverac
2, 345, 621, 569, 377
Toccata Deo gratias - R.K. Biggs

4.00: Evensong for the Guild of St. Joseph (BCP)
The Cherry Tree Carol - Vaughan Williams
Morley Responses
Psalm 89: 1-4, 26-29
Farrant’s Short Service
Expectans expectavi - Wood
349, 505, 380, 438
Trumpet Tune - Purcell

Sunday 14 April 2019 - Palm Sunday

10.00: Choral Eucharist (BCP)
Batten’s Short Service
Psalm 31:9-16
The Passion according to St. Luke - Viadana
Hosanna filio David - Victoria
181, 182, 387, 50, 386
Sarabande in modo elegiaco - Howells

Wednesday 17 April 2019

7.30pm: Tenebrae
Responsaries - Willan
Psalms 4, 24, 27, 51
Benedictus - Nanini in falsobordoni
184, 330

Maundy Thursday 18 April 2019

7.30pm: Choral Eucharist and Stripping of the Altars
Missa l’hora passa - Viadana
Psalm 116: 1, 10-17
View me, Lord, a work of thine - Lloyd
Ave verum corpus - Elgar
511, 508, 497, 64

The Eve of Easter 20 April 2019

8.00pm: The Great Vigil of Easter
Festive Eucharist - Rawsthorne
Hail, sacred feast - Willan
204, 428, 226, 48, 203
Litanies - Alain

Sunday 21 April 2019 - Easter Day

10.00: Choral Eucharist (BAS)
This is the day that the Lord hath made - Anon. (c. 1600)
Missa Sancta Joannis de Deo - Haydn
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
203 & 210, 222, 231, 229, 205
Final (1st Symphony) - Vierne

Sunday 28 April 2019 - Second Sunday of Easter

10.00: Choral Eucharist (BCP)
O sing joyfully - Batten
Darke in F
Psalm 118:14-29
This joyful Eastertide - Dutch Carol arr. Ledger
10, 228:1, 4-9, 459, 605, 344
Toccata Lasst uns erfreuen - Choveaux

What is Tenebrae?

Posted on March 30, 2019April 18, 2019

On Wednesday of Holy Week, we'll once again add Tenebrae to the wide selection of worship opportunities made available during perhaps the most solomn week of the Church year. The great three days (Eve of Good Friday or Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Day) are known as "the triduum."

An enormous amount of tradition and history informs modern practices where Tenebrae is celebrated. The following excerpts of the Tenebrae Wikipedia article references at least some of the detail.

The principal Tenebrae ceremony is the gradual extinguishing of candles upon a stand called a "hearse." In liturical history, eventually, the Roman Rite settled on fifteen candles, one of which is extinguished after each of the nine psalms of matins and the five of lauds. The six altar candles are put out during the Benedictus, gradually also reducing the lighting in the church throughout the chanting of the canticle. Then any remaining lights in the church are extinguished and the last candle on the hearse is hidden behind the altar (if the altar is such as does not hide the light, the candle, still lit, is put inside a candle lantern), ending the service in total darkness. The "strepitus" (Latin for "great noise"), made by slamming a book shut, banging a hymnal or breviary against the pew, or stomping on the floor, symbolizes the earthquake that followed Christ's death, although it may have originated as a simple signal to depart. After the candle has been shown to the people, it is extinguished, and then put "on the credence table," or simply taken to the sacristy. All rise and then leave in silence.

Some Anglican churches celebrate Tenebrae on Wednesday of Holy Week, although in various forms, thereby preserving the importance of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday observances.

The Episcopal Church in its Book of Occasional Services provides for a single Tenebrae service on Holy Wednesday in the evening. That form preserves the number of nine Tenebrae lessons, each followed by a responsory.

Christ Church Cathedral (Fredericton) uses Tenebrae in a sung traditional language form on the Wednesday evening of Holy Week

The majority of parishes within the Anglican Church of Canada do not routinely celebrate Tenebrae, and the Anglican Book Centre does not publish any service explicitly for Tenebrae. Parishes that do celebrate Tenebrae follow a variety of practices. The Church of St. Mary Magdalene (Toronto) is notable for the excellence of its music, of which the musical Tenebrae services are exemplary. Christ Church Cathedral (Fredericton) uses Tenebrae in a sung traditional language form on the Wednesday evening of Holy Week which includes lessons from Jeremiah with responding psalms, the fourth being from John 17, and Benedictus. At the Church of the Epiphany (Oakville) Tenebrae is described as the reversal of the Advent wreath: "starting Lent with the brightness of six candles, the darkness grows as a candle is extinguished each week in anticipation of Jesus dying on the cross on Good Friday." This abbreviated Tenebrae liturgy begins worship services on Sundays during Lent. The Sisterhood of Saint John the Divine have their own liturgy, "The Order of Tenebrae," published in 1933.

Music Monthly – March 2019

Posted on February 28, 2019March 20, 2019

Sunday 3 March 2019 - Last Sunday after the Epiphany

10.00: Choral Eucharist (BAS)
Cantate Domino - Pitoni
Missa Secunda - Hassler
Psalm 99
169(239), 521, 624, 619, 457
There shall a star from Jacob come forth - Mendelssohn
Fantasia and Fugue in G minor BWV 542 - Bach

4.00: Choral Evensong (BCP)
Drinkell Responses
Psalms 114 and 115
Stanford in C
O thou, the central orb - Wood
13, 631, 622
Toccata-Prelude on Vom Himmel hoch - Edmundson

Wednesday 6 March 2019 - Ash Wednesday

7.30pm: Choral Eucharist (BAS)
Missa l’hora passa - Viadana
Psalm 103:8-18
Nolo mortem peccatoris - Morley
180, 542, 508, 541, 178(439)
Prelude on O Mensch, bewein BWV 622 - Bach

Sunday 10 March 2019 - First Sunday in Lent

10.00: Choral Eucharist (BCP)
Great Litany
Short Service - Gibbons
Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
Almighty and everlasting God - Gibbons
175, 466, 458, 564
Choral No. 3 - Franck

Sunday 17 March - Second Sunday in Lent

10.00: Choral Eucharist (BAS)
God be in my head - Rutter
Missa Brevis XIII (Holy Cross) - Willan
Psalm 27
Lord, for thy tender mercy’s sake - Hilton
10, 629, 607, 71(Kilmarnock), 491
Fanfare - Whitlock

Sunday 24 March - Third Sunday in Lent

10.00: Choral Eucharist (BCP)
Deliver us, O Lord our God - Batten
Missa O Westron Wynde - Willan
Psalm 63:1-8
Like as the hart - Howells
501, 511, 92(93), 400, 467
Introduction and Passacaglia in D minor - Reger

Sunday 31 March - Fourth Sunday in Lent

10.00: Choral Matins (BCP)
Let thy merciful ears, O Lord - Mudd
Smith Responses
Venite
Psalm 32
Benedicite - Naylor in G
Jubilate - Medley in B flat
474, 611, 348, 601
Praeludium in C BuxWV 137 - Buxtehude

Paper Bag Singers

Posted on February 19, 2019April 10, 2019

"Individually, we can't carry a tune in a paper bag. Together, we sound GREAT!" Been told you can't sing, think you can't sing? Nonsense! Anyone can sing. Choirs and singing groups for people who don't have "a golden voice" have been springing up all across the UK and Canada. And now here in Fredericton, we have the Paper Bag Singers.

This is a casual group for people of all ages who just want to belt one out and have fun singing with like-voiced people. No auditions, no commitment; join us when you can. We meet every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month, starting Monday, March 11th. Only $5 an evening. Find us online! email questions to: <paperbagsingers at gmail.com>

Listen to Lynn Melanson interviewed on CBC's Shift on 28 February.

Hi all - the main idea here is to have fun. Our esteemed Cathedral music director, David Drinkell, will be giving us tips and hints to help us along the way - thank you David. Check out our meetup site; it costs you nothing to join the meetup group and RSVP. Spread the word; the more the merrier. Attaching a poster, should you wish to print out a few to put up in your place of work or on a local bulletin board - thanks for that if you do.

Hope to hear you all in fine voice - oh, we'll all sound wonderful!