Woo hoo! God is good!
These exclamations echoed round the cathedral office when Paul and the wardens received the latest pledging update from our treasurer, Jane. There are more pledges to come, but so far 37 people have pledged a total of $91,472, an impressive average of $2,472 per annual pledge, or $48 weekly. We are well on the way to exceeding last year’s total. Thank you to all who have pledged and all who are planning what they can afford next year. Please return your pledge to the treasurer, either in the envelope in the kit you might have been given, or by printing out the pledge form and mailing it to the office. It will also be interesting to receive your community survey, also in the kit or available here.
God is indeed good in many ways as we celebrate Christmas in our beautiful cathedral. I’m sure you’re aware by now of all that is going on, but just in case …
Ø Patrick will perform Olivier Messiaen’s, La Nativité du Seigneur, on Saturday, December 19, at 4:30 pm. Admission free / voluntary contribution. Click to read about La Nativité du Seigneur.
Ø The service of readings, carols, music and dance for Christmas will take place Sunday at 4 pm. Tell your friends – bring your friends!
Ø Blue Christmas on Monday at 6:30, a reflective and comforting Christmas service for those who might be finding this season hard
Ø Christmas Eve:
Family Eucharist and pageant at 4 pm,
Messe de Noël en français at 7 pm,
Midnight Mass starting at 11 pm
Ø Christmas Day:
Said Eucharist at 8 am,
Choral Festival Eucharist at 10 am
Ø Christmas lunch: Those who would like to do so from the cathedral are invited to join the congregation of St John the Evangelist after their Christmas morning mass for a Christmas lunch. Voluntary Donation but numbers must be confirmed in advance. Let Paul know if you would like to join the Cathedral Group.
If you are still looking for small Christmas gifts Jonathan suggests a visit to the Fair Trade Kiosque in the Baptistry after the 10am Eucharist this Sunday. It will be featuring a small selection of last minute stocking-filler gifts from around the world!
After Christmas of course comes Epiphany. There will be a special choral Eucharist on January 6 at 12:15 and a pot luck party at 6.00pm. Save the date and bring your favourite dish – perhaps your mind will run to salad if you’ve eaten too much the week before, but all kinds of food will be welcome, including desserts.
And after Epiphany comes the secular festival of Nuit blanche on the last Saturday in February. Natasha is looking for art to display and the organisers are looking for hot chocolate servers and greeters. Contact Natasha directly for the art exhibition, and Ann in the cathedral office for other offers of help.
An important reminder: Have you bought your 2016 parking pass if you plan to park in the forecourt? The cost is $100 for the year. Passes are available from the vergers. If you currently have a parking pass it will expire on December 31, 2015. Starting February 1st the parking policy will be strictly enforced.
And an important question: Did you receive the dean’s Christmas letter? There were a few glitches printing out the mailing labels from our data base, but we are also aware that people sometimes move and forget to send the office their new address. Do we have your current address?
There will not be a newsletter next week so I’ll take the opportunity to wish you all a very happy Christmas. Last Saturday there was a concert in the cathedral given by Adelesia. One of their songs was particularly appropriate for this time of the year; I will quote part of it as my Christmas gift to you all. The words are by Luci Shaw, the music by Ed Henderson. If you google these names and the title Star Song, you can listen to the song.
Star Song
We have been having epiphanies, like suns, all this year long.
And now at its close when planets are shining through frost,
Radiance runs like music in the bones,
And the heart keeps rising at the sound of any song
It is he whose light glistens in each song sung
And in all of us in the true coming together again at the stable:
Shepherds, sages, his women and men,
Common and faithful, wealthy and wise,
With carillon hearts and, suddenly,
Stars in our eyes
A very happy Christmas season to you all!
Ann Elbourne