Dear Friend of the Cathedral
Perhaps, like me, you have always loved this time of year when our minds and bodies have relaxed in the summer heat and we feel new energy pouring back into us as we undertake new projects. There will be some suggestions this week for things you might like to do and a timely spiritual practice from Vivian with a link to an excellent essay from a modern writer (not the Thomas More of Utopia fame, but a namesake).
Vivian writes “STUDY is a traditional spiritual practice. Right now, parents all over Montreal are buying school supplies for their children. Older students are choosing their courses, working out their schedules, gathering their assigned materials and readings. Teachers and professors are preparing for the new school year. Yet as Thomas Moore writes in this essay, (here) one of the roots of the word study is “leisure.” When have you taken pleasure in giving yourself to learning? What draws you right now as a subject to be studied?”
Here are some opportunities at the cathedral:
If you are a student or a young adult you might like to attend a meeting of Hungry Minds – Supper and Bible Study for students and young adults which meets Wednesdays at 6 pm in the undercroft. For more information about Hungry Minds and our other young adult activities, talk to the Rev’d Jean-Daniel Williams at coffee hour, or e-mail him (jd@mcgillprotestant.ca).
are a francophone you could join in Pain partage et prière which resumes activities on Sunday, September 11th at 2pm in the Hollis Lounge on the second floor of Fulford Hall.
If you are a reader, come and join the discussion about the cathedral book group’s summer read, The Dust which Falls from Dreams by Louis de Bernières or come with your suggestions for future reads. The date of the get-together will be in the first September bulletin
If you would like to know more about the activities of the local branch of the PWRDF (Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund), you are invited to a meeting on Thursday, September 15 at noon in Fulford Hall to hear about the Pikangikum Water Project. The Pikangikum First Nation is an Ojibway First Nation in northern Ontario. It’s an isolated fly-in community where of the 450 homes, only 5% have water or waste-water services. To get water, they have to go to distribution points in the community to collect water in containers. In addition to lack of water, the community faces numerous other challenges, including poverty, lack of community infrastructure, overcrowded housing, and food security. PWRDF is working with partner organizations to provide potable indoor water and wastewater service to homes in this isolated community.
Perhaps you are an artist or an art student. Natasha wants you to know that artists are still welcome to participate in the exhibition “Musique/Music” during Journées de la culture. Interested visual artists who have art that relates to the theme of music, please contact Natasha Henderson before September 18 to be included in the show which will take place during Les journées de la culture, September 30 to October 2. I believe there will also be an opportunity during this special weekend to interpret music by drawing as you listen. Much more information about les journées and requests for help will appear throughout September. You have been warned!
Perhaps you love music. The two Oasis series of concerts continue in the cathedral at 4:30 on Saturdays and 6:30 on Wednesdays and a third series is offered at St George’s on Sunday afternoons at 2 pm. This Saturday 27th August we welcome pianist Nunu Zhang for a ‘Celebration of 20th Century Piano Works’. The concert on Wednesday next week (August 31) will be given by Olivia Musat on the piano and will present pictures of Spain, dances of Romania and a story set in the heavens. Come and enjoy an evening of music by Messiaen, Albeniz, Constantinescu, and Liszt. For details of all Oasis Musicale concerts visit http://www.oasismusicale.blogspot.ca/
Looking forward, please note November 12 in your diaries as the evening of our super annual concert which raises funds for the choir. This year the evening will celebrate Shakespeare and there will be words as well as music.
Perhaps another good date to note is Forum on September 20 when you can hear more details about this concert, the programme for journées de la culture and an update about the spire fund-raising capital campaign.
A very special study opportunity is being offered next year by Robert Camara, the rector of Saint George’s Chateauguay and a previous Cathedral parishioner. He will be leading a Pilgrimage to Italy, “In the Company of Saints”, June 23-July4, 2017. The pilgrims on this trip will be mainly his parishioners, but he is inviting members of other parishes to join the group as they spend ten days punctuated with prayer, education and witness, visiting Rome, Assisi, Florence and Venice. Two years ago a large group from the Cathedral joined parishioners from St George’s Chateauguay on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land led jointly by Robert and Paul. It was a wonderful experience. If you would like to know more about the pilgrimage to Italy please contact the Rev’d Robert Camara at rcamara@montreal.anglican.ca.
As always, volunteers are needed. This week, please notice particularly the following two notices.
- The Cathedral Fair Trade Working Group is looking for new volunteers interested in social justice for farmers and artisans to help out with the monthly fair trade kiosques with set up, serving and clean up. If you are interested, please contact Lisa at lmiddlem@gmail.com
- The Sunday School is looking for some new volunteers for the fall. Please speak to Jonathan if you would like to learn more about how to be involved in this valuable and rewarding ministry.
Finally an invitation to seniors (you decide if you fit that category!). Please come to the Dorie Cuming Tea Party Tuesday September 6th from 3-5 pm in Fulford Hall, ending in time for Evensong at 5:15. Dress code is smart casual; women are requested to wear hats. Bishop Mary wore a memorable hat last year, so follow her example and dig out your most extravagant piece of millinery. RSVP to Marjorie Sharp, Janet King or to the Cathedral office.
Happy end of August to you all
Ann Elbourne