Journées de la culture was a glorious extended celebration between Friday and Tuesday, involving many hours of work by many people. Thank you to all who volunteered their skills and their time. We had an official visitor from the organisers of the Journées de la culture on Saturday. She stayed most of the day, perused the archives and our other displays, talked to various people on duty, attended Natasha’s sketching workshop and stayed for the music from the movies concert as well as the punch, popcorn and horn quartet afterwards. She was clearly very impressed, as I think most of our visitors were. We had over 2500 visitors on Friday and Saturday and more visitors than usual on Sunday, but we didn’t count them. The various concerts were particularly impressive, varied, interesting and of a very high standard, featuring mainly musicians who are part of this talented community. Evensong was magnificent, as was the cream tea on the forecourt with homemade scones and homemade jam.
As you might imagine, there was a lot of clearing up and cleaning to be done on Monday so that the cathedral was ready for the consecration and installation of Bishop Mary Irwin-Gibson on Tuesday. We have two amazing teams of vergers and servers who made sure the building was beautiful and the ceremony ran smoothly. Kat spent all Monday afternoon polishing the silver communion vessels while Rob polished brass vases and Tyson and the other vergers tried to wheel dolly-loads of chairs from Fulford Hall to the Church, a task made more difficult by the film crew blocking the sidewalk outside Cathedral Place. In the opposite direction Jonathan and Ann were transporting archives and artifacts back to their home in Fulford Hall. All the hard work was worth it as Tuesday evening saw a truly joyful and Spirit-filled service!
Back to a more normal schedule!
Saturday, Oct 3rd, 4:30 the Oasis Musicale concert features Kate Maloney, violin, and A-Yeon Kim, piano, performing works by Bach and Mozart
Sunday, Oct 4th
after the 10 am Eucharist, the Social Action Justice Group (SJAG) invites you to meet your PWRDF reps and learn about the stories behind the Archbishop’s ‘Fred Says’ appeal. Activities and quizzes!
That evening there are two events at the cathedral and one in someone’s house:
During Evensong at 4pm, our new bishop, Mary, will install Donald Boisvert as Principal of Diocesan College. Do come to the service to support Donald as he starts this new ministry. We are happy that he will continue to be part of the ministry team at the Cathedral.
After this service, at 6pm, there will be an informal, participatory and experimental Eucharist at 6pm honouring St Francis. Rhonda will celebrate and preach and music will be provided by Joseph Hafner and Jonathan Stuchbery.
The same evening, at 7 pm, the reading group will get together to talk about Us Conductors by Sean Michaels. Please feel free to join us, even if you haven’t read this book. We usually have quite a wide ranging discussion of books we have enjoyed and we will be planning what we read November and January. December is usually an egg nog and movie evening. Contact the office to be connected with Ann, Jane, Donna, or Diana.
The next gathering of the Lunch’n Chat group will be on Tuesday, October 6 at noon in the Hollis Lounge (on the second floor at 1444 Union Avenue). Join them for a potluck lunch and fellowship
Advance notice of later events:
Sunday, October 18 Prayers and Reflection on the eve of the election Gather with the Cathedral community for prayer and to discuss the issues facing our country and communities. We will use the discussion document prepared by the Anglican Church of Canada to frame our conversation. Come at 4pm to join in Evensong and/or at 5pm for the discussion.
Forum will meet on Tuesday, October 20 6pm refreshments; 6:30 meeting at 1444 Union Avenue (the day after the federal election)
The Public Theology Working Group will meet on Monday, Oct 26 at 5:30 at Montreal Diocesan Theological College. Climate change, the refugee crisis, and contemporary First Nations issues have been identified as key areas for education and advocacy at the Cathedral in 2015/16. Come help shape the program.
One Mission – Many Ministries, Saturday, October 31st 10am – 2pm. The Cathedral is a busy place full of wonderful people. Whether you are new to the community or have been a member for decades, this day is for you! You are invited to gather in Fulford Hall at 10 am for an informal information session about the numerous ways you can be involved in the Cathedral ministries. Learn more about being a reader, intercessor, server, steward, a member of the hospitality team or part of the chancel guild, for example. There are many ways you can offer your gifts. The session will end with lunch.
Families and Friends Retreat, Nov 20-22. All welcome for play and prayer at Villa du Brôme. Contact Rhonda for more details.
The Associates and Friends of the Society of St John the Divine will be holding an Advent Quiet Day, led by the Rev’d Shirley Smith, on November 28th at St Stephen’s Lachine, 25 – 12th Avenue. Registration at 9:30
Help us keep our records up to date! If you are a regular attendee at the Cathedral and have never given your address to the office, we invite you to do so by filling in the insert in the hymnal and giving it to a greeter or clergy member after the service. Alternatively, you can email the ">office.