Dear Friend of the Cathedral
The warmth of Spring is in the air and our thoughts begin to turn towards Easter as shops fill with chocolate eggs and fluffy rabbits – not to mention Easter elephants in Pier 1 – But there’s still some way to go and the agony and triumph of Good Friday come before the joy of Easter.
At the beginning of the 10 am Eucharist on Sunday the priest will say, “It is Lent. We prepare for Christ’s death and resurrection by turning to God in fasting, in prayer and in acts of generosity.”
Holy Week begins March 20th: This is the most important week in the Christian year, a time when all Christians are called to walk with Jesus in prayer, worship and study. Paul asks us to please consider our own commitment to share this week with Jesus and our church community. There will be services every evening Monday to Wednesday and special solemn liturgies on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Meanwhile we want to make the church beautiful for Easter. If you can, do consider joining the spring cleaning group this Saturday, March 12, starting at 9am who will help get the Cathedral ship shape for Holy Week and Easter now that the scaffolding around the arch has come down and the dust has settled, mainly on the pews.
Rob Wells is looking for people who would like to contribute money for Easter flowers, perhaps in memory of a loved one, or in thanksgiving. Please give your name to rob or to the cathedral office as soon as possible. Tania will soon be working on the Easter bulletin.
Palm Sunday will be celebrated with palm crosses and with a passion play directed by Rosemary Cass-Beggs. There will be a rehearsal after church this Sunday if you would like to participate. Volunteers will be making palm crosses on Saturday, March 19 at 10am in the Undercroft. New helpers are welcome, no previous experience required. Let Janet King or the office know if you can join the group.
We were saddened to learn that Paul’s father, John Kennington, died in hospital on Wednesday evening. The funeral will be after Easter. Paul has asked for your prayers for John, for himself and for John’s family, especially his daughter Josie and his other son Nick. We send Paul our deepest sympathy.
A bouquet of meetings for your enjoyment –
The Social Justice Action Group invites you to a special meeting in St Anselm’s chapel after the 10 o’clock service. Jonathan and Vivian will lead Reconciliation Prayers from the East (from Reconciliation Prayers from Four Directions), followed by a brief discussion. This is the first of a series of meetings being organised by SJAG as a follow-up to the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
There will also be an opportunity to sign postcards and write letters on behalf of Amnesty International during coffee hour (which will be upstairs in Fulford Hall in order to keep the church clear for the rehearsal of the Passion Play)
Later the same afternoon Pain, partage et prière the French sharing and bible study group will meet at 2:00 p.m. in the Hollis Lounge.
The next meeting of cathedral Forum is next Tuesday, March 16. All Cathedral members are invited to attend this sounding board of the community.
Hungry Minds, Bible study and supper for students and young adults, meets Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 pm. in the Undercroft.
The Cathedral Reading Group will meet on Sunday, April 10 at 7pm to discuss A Preparation for the Next Life, a novel by Atticus Lish set in New York and described by the New York times as a beautiful, astounding debut novel . All are welcome to join the group.
The Oasis Musicale concert on Saturday is Les Deux amis – two guitarists, Jonathan Stuchbery and Josephina Lee. Enjoy the richness of sound made by two guitars. Jonathan, a member of our choir, gave a beautiful recital in the cathedral for the eve of Nuit blanche. For details of Saturday’s concert http://loasismusicale2.blogspot.ca/
If you enjoy Taizé hymns, make a note of the Taizé evening with Brother Emile from Taizé, in communion with refugees from Syria. At the Theotokos Orthodox Church,750 boul. St-Joseph est (Laurier metro) at 7pm onMarch 12th
Our refugee sponsorship group met with the relatives of a Druse family from Syria that we may soon be sponsoring. The meeting went well, but there is a lot of paperwork to be completed before the family arrives. Please keep praying for refugees.
You might like to look at an interesting blog written by a member of our congregation, Kimberley Manning. She is describing her idea of a feminist university as a next-generation university that places social justice at the centre of its mission and practice. Here’s the link: