Let’s talk about prayer.
As you know, our Bishop, Barry, is retiring at the end of August and a new bishop will be elected by synod on June 6. Paul is celebrating the noon Eucharist at the Cathedral each Wednesday with a special intention for the discernment of the Holy Spirit. Please add your prayers at this time especially, and please also pray for our synod delegates, Flo Tracy and Sam Keuchguerian
The Parish Retreat takes place next weekend, a time for quiet prayer as well as participation in monastic style liturgies. Please pray for all who will come, as well as for Sally Harrington-Philippo who is preparing the talks, Paul who is preparing the Offices and other liturgies and for Vivian who has devoted many hours to preparing the retreat. There is still space for one or two more retreatants and for people who would like to spend a Quiet Day at l’Hermitage on Friday or Saturday. Vivian needs to know by Sunday anyone else (apart from people who have already signed up) who will be at a Quiet Day. She has to give final numbers for meals.
My computer wants to call people attending this retreat “retreat ants”. I like that – ants work hard and support each other. Prayer is indeed hard work and also binds us together as a community.
There is contemplative prayer every Tuesday at 5:45pm after Evensong. Next session, April 28, is silent meditation.
We are invited to join Rhonda on Sunday May 3 at 6pm for an informal, participatory and experimental evening Eucharist – a time of joyful prayer.
If you are unable to leave your house and would like to receive communion please contact the church office.
Your prayers are asked for the 6 people being ordained as transitional deacons on May 24 – José Lemoine, James Duckett, Jean-Jacques Goulet, Amy Hamilton, Mary Pickup and Denis Gévry.
Prayerful study is also important in our church life.
Sometimes prayer and bible study include sharing food.
Hungry Minds, bible study and supper for students and young adults, meets every Wednesday from 6-9 pm in the Undercroft. See Rhonda for details.
Pain, partage et prière , the French Bible study group, will meet Sunday May 3 at 2:00pm in the Hollis Lounge.
The End of the Month Lunch which feeds around 200 poor and homeless people is being sponsored this Sunday by a Selwyn House parent. Marjorie and Adrian need volunteers from the Cathedral to help serve and welcome our hungry guests.
The Seniors’ Pot-luck Lunch will be held on Tuesday May 5 at noon in the Hollis Lounge. Please confirm attendance with the Cathedral office by May 1. This is always a very happy time of sharing food and conversation. I believe some people like follow the lunch with a visit to La Baie which has special discounts for seniors on the first Tuesday of each month.
As conflicts deepen around the world, we offer prayers for peace at our liturgies each day in the cathedral.
The Public Theology group has put together a very important study series WHAT SHALL WE SAY TO WAR?
- It begins on Wednesday, April 29 when Dr Marc Lalonde from the Department of Religion at Concordia University will address the issue “When Christians Say Yes to War”.
- The following week, May 6, Dr Vern Neufeld Redekop from the School of Conflict Studies, Saint Paul University, will look at the contrary position “When Christians Say No to War”.
- May 20, there will be a panel in which “Diverse Voices Respond to War” and the series will wrap up on
- May 27 with a workshop “What shall We Say to War?”
Do come if you possibly can to one or all of the four sessions, Wednesday evenings, from 7-9 in Fulford Hall
Here is an excellent suggestion from Episkopé: What do we think about war? Is all war wrong, or just the wars we are likely to lose? The question engages us on many different levels. In connection with our forthcoming series of talks and exchanges, you might want to watch Jon Stewart’s interview with Tony Blair and ponder Picasso’s Guernica..
Connected to our worries about war is our concern for the desperate plight of refugees. A small group of Cathedral parishioners is starting to study the possibility of the Cathedral sponsoring a refugee family. Paul Clarke, Director of Action Réfugiés, has given us some good advice and if we do go forward with a sponsorship there will be very useful support from this organization. If you are interested in joining the group exploring possibilities, please speak to Janet King.
The Cathedral Book Group will meet Sunday, May 24 at 8 pm (after the Ordination and the reception) to discuss Life After Life by Kate Atkinson. On Monday, June 8 they will discuss Thaliad by Marly Youmans. Copies of Thaliad are available for $10 from Jane Aitkens or Ann Elbourne. This is a most unusual book, being an epic poem with a dystopian theme. It is published by Beth Adams’ Phoenicia Press. Beth will be part of the discussion in June, ready to talk about the book, the author and the pains and delights of running a small publishing house.
The beauty of the Cathedral with its flowers and candles helps us to pray. Please speak to Rob Wells or contact the Cathedral office if you would like to donate flowers in thanksgiving or in the memory of a loved one. (Cost approx $60.00.) Sponsors are needed for May 24 and 31 and Sundays in June.
Music too can be a form of meditation. Two excellent Oasis concerts are being advertised on their Facebook page. On Saturday April 25 at 4:30 the duo of Roland Arnassalon, violin, and Elias-Axel Patterson, piano, will offer “Salon Chamber Music.” The programme includes Massenet’s well-loved Meditation from “Thaïs”. The following Wednesday, May 29, from 6:15 to 7 pm, Dominic Painchaud, cello and Nataliya Labiau, piano, present “Allemagne baroque et romantique” with pieces by Bach, Schumann and Brahms.
There are many activities beyond the cathedral. Briefly, they include two useful workshops at the Ignatian Centre and some diocesan events:
Saturday May 2 “When Helping You is Hurting Me…” Cathie Macaulay who is familiar to some Cathedral members for the workshop she gave about listening skills, will discuss healthy models of Christian service and leadership. Information 514-481-1064
May 29 – 31, three sessions, Margaret Silf will lead a workshop on keeping our eyes on the Lord during difficult times. Information 514-481-1064
St. George’s (Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue) Youth Group is hosting a LGBTQ Youth, Friends & Family Gathering on Friday May 1st from 7-9pm. It’s a great opportunity to join with Christians of all ages to discuss, ask questions and share stories. Rev. Alain Brosseau will be the guest speaker.
The ACW Women’s Day of Celebration is on Thursday May 7th starting at 10:30am with a Eucharist service in Christ Church Cathedral. The homilist will be The Rev. Pamela Yarrow. Following the Eucharist will be registration, lunch and the afternoon program… all in Fulford Hall. The guest speaker will be Ms. Marina Boulos from Chez Doris.
On May 4th 2015, the internationally acclaimed hypnotist/mentalist/ magician ‘Spidey’ will perform a new mentalist show at the Rialto Theatre. This major event will help raise funds for the Mile End Community Mission, a centre of caring, inclusion and hope, serving disadvantaged individuals and families living in and around the Mile End area of Montreal. Tickets can be purchased on the Rialto Theatre website: www.theatrerialto.ca or by contacting the mission (514) 274-3401
Saturday May 9 a workshop with Dr John Bowen, “Roots and Wings: Being Church in the 21st Century” asks “What does it take for the church to thrive and grow in this post-Christendom culture? “ 10.00am–3.00pm at Fulford Hall, 1444 Union Ave, Montreal. The cost is $20 per person and includes lunch. To register, email programme.office@montreal.anglican.ca or call (514) 843-6577