The cathedral is looking for a new head verger. This is a full time position with flexible working hours and a salary plus benefits. The general responsibilities are to
• Create, maintain and monitor the interior and exterior environments of the Cathedral and surrounding grounds to be a safe, welcoming and spiritual oasis for all visitors.
• Manage the verger staff and make sure that the interior of the cathedral is clean, organized and well-maintained.
• Oversee the maintenance of the exterior grounds and gardens.
• Ensure that the Cathedral’s liturgical vestments, vessels and all accessories are kept safe, cleaned, well cared for and ready for use.
Click here for a detailed job description in French and English. If you know of anyone who might be interested, please could you pass it on? This is an enormously important and challenging position. We are so lucky that Rob Wells has done such a magnificent job of caring for the cathedral. He has retired as verger, but is not moving away from the Cathedral. We will be thanking him at coffee hour after the 10 am service on Sunday, May 10.
We have all been horrified by the news from Nepal. You might like to know that PWRDF (the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund) has announced an initial grant of $20,000 in relief funds for Nepal and is responding through the ACT Alliance which is working to distribute food, water, shelter materials, medicine and other necessities to those affected by the 7.9 magnitude earthquake.
All donations to PWRDF between April 25 and May 25, 2015 for the Nepal earthquake relief efforts will be matched, dollar for dollar, by the Government of Canada and used to provide humanitarian relief in the wake of this catastrophe. This is true of whatever charitable organization you choose for your donation.
Donations through PWRDF can be made on-line – http://pwrdf.org/donate , by phone – contact:Jennifer Brown 416-924-9192 ext. 355; 1-866-308-7973 or by cheque. Please make cheques payable to PWRDF, Nepal Earthquake Relief and send to:
The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund
The Anglican Church of Canada
80 Hayden Street
Toronto, Ontario M4Y 3G2
On the topic of donations: May 10 after the 10 am service SJAG (the Social Justice Action Group) will be meeting in the Chapter House to discuss the criteria they will use to make recommendations for the 2015 Outreach donations. During the past two years organizations tackling the problem of homelessness were selected by SJAG and their recommendations sent to Forum for approval. Please join them if you are interested in participating actively in this process. SJAG would like to hear from as many people as possible.
SJAG’s regular first Sunday meeting, this Sunday, May 3, will feature conversations with Matthias Heilke about his law internship in Uganda last summer.
SJAG has prepared an interesting series for these first Sunday meetings. The June meeting will discuss Justice for Aboriginal Peoples – The Truth and Reconciliation Commission closing events, held May 31 to June 3, show us that there is still much to work to do. Watch out for announcements about the later topics.
The Public Theology Group continues its series on attitudes to war next Wednesday, May 6 from 7 pm to 9 pm in Fulford Hall. Dr Vern Neufeld Redekop from the School of Conflict Studies, Saint Paul University, will look at the position of pacifists: “When Christians Say No to War”.
On a lighter note – the Seniors’ lunch takes place this Tuesday. Speak to Janet King.
Pasta and Poetry – Join Jan Jorgensen for a pasta supper and poetry workshopin the Undercroft on Monday, May 11, from 6:30 to 9:00. No experience necessary! Gluten free option. RSVP by May 8. Sponsored by Vallum Poetry. I attended one of the earlier workshops and enjoyed it enormously.
Help needed:
If you would like to sponsor Sunday flowers in thanksgiving for an event, or in memory of a loved one, flowers are needed for May 24, May 31 and all Sundays in June. Contact the office.
We are recruiting new altar servers, youth (10 and over) and adults. Please speak with George Deare or Tyson Rosberg if you are interested.
The cathedral continues to have a busy music programme.
This Saturday, May 2 at 4:30 L’Oasis Musicale presents A Vocal Journey with Catherine St-Arnaud, soprano, and Julien Leblanc, piano. The programme includes works by Mozart, Strauss, Schoenberg, Haendel and Poulenc. Details at http://loasismusicale2.blogspot.ca/
Next Wednesday, May 6 at 6:15, there will be an Ode to Coffee. Ghislaine Deschambault, mezzo-soprano, Joanna Marsden, baroque flute, Kyle Irving-Moroz, cello and viola da gamba, Christophe Gauthier, harpsichord, present works by Bernier, Handel, Hotterre and Bach. As always, these Oasis concerts are free, with a suggested donation of $10 to cover expenses and recompense the musicians.
It has become a tradition to have a concert after the celebration of the Eucharist at major festivals which fall on a weekday. After the Ascension Day midday Eucharist on Thursday 14th May (music provided by Patrick and the Cathedral Singers), there will be a short concert (1 – 1:30pm) by The Cantabile Youth Singers of Kingston, Ontario, led by Dr. Mark Sirett. Let’s try to be there to welcome them.
The ACW Women’s Day of Celebration will be held on Thursday May 7th, starting with a Eucharist at 10:30am. The homilist will be The Rev. Pamela Yarrow. Registration, lunch and the afternoon program take place in Fulford Hall after the Eucharist. The guest speaker will be Ms. Marina Boulos from Chez Doris, one of the organizations which the Cathedral supports financially.
Please pray for the parish retreat being held this weekend, for the participants and the leaders, Sally Harrington-Philippo who will deliver the talks, Paul who will lead the Offices and other liturgies and for Vivian who has devoted many hours to preparing the retreat. Pray that everyone will be refreshed spiritually and physically.
Please pray also for the discernment of the Holy Spirit as the diocese prepares for the election of a new bishop and pray for God’s blessing on the many activities of the Cathedral and the people who organize them.