Dear Friend of the Cathedral
We have some terrific volunteer opportunities this week and a reflection from Vivian about volunteering. Also look for updates, invitations and information which might interest you.
Thank you to the people who have already volunteered to help with les journées de la culture. Here is the notice again, in French to be a little different from last week.
Journées de la culture à la cathédrale le 30 sept, 1er oct, 2 oct – bénévoles recherchés
La cathédrale Christ Church célèbre les Journées de la culture vendredi, le 30 septembre jusqu’à dimanche, le 2 octobre, 2016, avec un programme de musique instrumentale, chorale, classique, folklorique et même participative, ainsi qu’un atelier et une exposition de l’art plastique et une démonstration de l’orgue. La fête se termine avec un thé traditionnel à l’anglaise le dimanche en après-midi. Nous avons besoin de bénévoles pour surveiller les expositions, accueillir les visiteurs, et aider avec la préparation de la nourriture et la servir.
Il y a une fiche d’inscription qui se trouve dans le baptistère et ici en ligne: https://goo.gl/forms/XIi8hOAYku9mRT3B3,
ou vous pouvez également envoyer un courriel à jdc.cathedral@gmail.com.
Vous pouvez voir le calendrier des événements qui auront lieu à la cathédrale sur le site des Journées de la Culture
http://www.journeesdelacultu re.qc.ca/find-by-org.html?search_organization=Christ+Church+Cathedral&cdl=1.
You can also find this information on Facebook in both languages. Please read, share and invite your friends. The schedule is attached. You’ll see all sorts of lovely events happening that weekend. Please note that the concert on Saturday has NOT been cancelled – the organiser’s website is mistaken. Again, the organisers would appreciate you sharing the programme with your friends. https://www.facebook.com/events/321140744898808/
The organisers of the Cathedral events have been told that our activities have been included in the circuit La mémoire de Montréal. This will increase the visibility of our site and make it one of the ones most frequented by the public. Wow!! We really will need lots of volunteers to be in the cathedral welcoming people and keeping an eye on the displays.
Another exciting event coming up is the annual concert in support of the choir on November 11. Ben Stuchbery, chair of the Music committee, writes “This year’s concert centres itself on Shakespeare and will include the involvement of actors from Persephone Theatre, dancers, small vocal ensembles, a solo guitar piece and of course performances by our own cathedral singers. Please support our music ministry by coming to the concert, and, if you know of an individual and/or business that would be interested in contributing either by purchasing an ad in the programme or by a financial gift, please contact Benjamin Stuchbery (benstuchbery80@gmail.com) and you will be provided with the appropriate forms.” The ads are an important source of the income from the concert and are not expensive.
The Social Justice Action Group (SJAG) will be having a business meeting on September 17th at 1 pm. They are meeting in the Undercroft (Cathedral basement) to review our advocacy actions thus far and to plan activities for the months ahead. If you are interested in being part of the conversation you are most welcome.
If you are unable to attend and would like to receive notes, or would simply prefer to be called upon to volunteer during one of our events, please let Jan know: revjjorgensen@yahoo.com
Wondering whether you have time to volunteer? Mark Horoszowski in Forbes (“Five Surprising Benefits of Volunteering”) points out that “volunteering time makes you feel like you have more time. Wharton professor Cassie Mogilner wrote in the Harvard Business Review that her research found those who volunteer their time feel like they have more of it. This is similar to other research showing that people who donate to charity feel wealthier.” As this week’s spiritual practice, here is a way of meditating on altruism… your own or others… and for “extra credit” consider Hebrews 12:2 (this link will point you to versions in many languages).
And some invitations which simply ask for your time and your enjoyment or perhaps your interest in learning.
On Saturday 10th September at 4:30pm in the cathedral we welcome pianist Elias-Axel Pettersson for a recital entitled ‘Fanciful and Monumental Structures’. From mercurial Mendelssohn to sublime Schubert, buoyant Blumenfeld to monumental Franck, enjoy a whirlwind tour through five piano masterworks. https://www.facebook.com/events/289576558086332/
L’Oasis Musicale at St Georges, continues this Sunday 11th September at 2pm with a concert exploring the special relationship between Robert and Clara Schumann and Johannes Brahms. Love is known to create complex emotion, from the utmost tenderness to the harshest heartbreaks. Here we find it triangle-shaped, revolving around the Schumanns and their friend Johannes Brahms. Through the eyes of “Chiarina” – so named by her soulmate Robert Schumann – let this program transport you inside the very soul of these legendary artists. https://www.facebook.com/events/1643615225950692/
The LGBTQ group has arranged two social events. The first on Saturday, September 17, at 3 p.m. is a visit to the Musée des Beaux Arts exhibition, Focus: Perfection-Robert Mapplethorpe. The second, on Saturday, October 15, at 6 p.m., is a Pot-luck BBQ Speak to Jean-Jacques for further information about both events.
The book group will meet on September 18 at 7 pm. All welcome. Talk to Ann, Diana, Donna, Jane …..
PWRDF’s meeting in Fulford Hall at noon on September 15 will give information about the Pikangikum water project. The Pikangikum First Nation is an Ojibway First Nation in northern Ontario. 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 improve these conditions.
La maison de la Syrie has sent us an invitation to attend the Syrian cultural festival between the 19th and 25th of September. It takes place at various venues. Some events are free; some ask you to buy a ticket. All the information is on http://lamaisondelasyrie.com/ We constantly hear about so many terrible happenings in Syria, and of course many refugees have come from that country to Canada so it is good to have a chance to learn more about the culture of this area , especially in view of our plans for sponsorship.
The Sponsorship Ministry group has sent us the following update
The dossier for our family is now in Beirut. Emily from Action Réfugiés Montréal tells us that it can take up to another six or seven months for them to have their interview.
You may recall that our family is Druze (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druze) and will be observing Eid al-Adha which falls on September 11th this year. Wikipedia tells us: The “Festival of the Sacrifice” honors the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son, as an act of submission to God’s command, before God then intervened, through his angel, and informs him that his sacrifice has already been accepted.
We have sent a card on behalf of the congregation.A Druze friend describes her family’s observances of this Holy Day:
“It is one of the most festive Holy Days for Druze. This holiday reminds believers of the Hereafter and the Day of Judgement, and that all the faithful are to make amends for their sins, and work for others, in addition to visiting family and friends, and offering prayers for peace and brotherhood while performing the duty of giving gifts.
There are ten holy days that precede the Eid which are called “blessed ten days” where the religious people perform daily prayers – and some of them fast in full or in part, to cleanse the soul and body. The most important of these is the “pause” that comes the day before the festival, which is Holy and the most important for Druze believers.
Eid ritual-Prepare the Eid cakes and buy other sweets.-Buy clothes for family members, especially the children, in addition to toys.-prepare Arabic coffee-visit relatives and friends.”
Please continue to hold our refugee family and all displaced people in your prayers.
The Anglican Church is continuing its celebration of the Season of Creation with an invitation to celebrate the fauna and flora which bring us so much joy and to be moved to protect them for our descendants. If would like to integrate the Season of Creation in your worship, look here for worship materials and read here for more information about protecting biodiversity.
Finally, an important message about the intercessions list. When you make a request for a name to be added to the list of those in special need, it will appear on the intercessions sheet for 4 weeks and then will be removed. If you feel the person needs to be kept on the list please contact Ann and ask for the prayers to continue.
Ann Elbourne