A whirlwind of events this Sunday – Support for Yevgeniya’s bid to sponsor her mother – Advent: chocolate calendars and carols – Quiet Day – Cathedral Finances, report for October – LGBTQ Film Festival, an invitation – Lunch N’ Chat- Link to Tyson’s sermon – Oasis Concert – Thomas Campion

Dear Friend of the Cathedral

Happy Thanksgiving to all our American friends and prayers for safe journeys for all who are travelling to be with friends and family.

Cathedral choir soloist and Oasis concert organizer Catherine St-Arnaud is one of 22 competitors in this year’s Manulife OSM Competition for woodwinds, brass, and voice. Please take a moment to vote for her in the “Etoiles Stingray” competition … the winner will be the musician with the most votes from the public.. Voting closes at midnight Saturday (Nov. 25) http://www.osm.ca/en/prizes-and-scholarships/

This Sunday (Nov. 26) a celebration of the Reign of Christ, will be a very busy day at the Cathedral, so let’s start with a list of events in which you can participate.

1. Lower Canada College will sponsor the lunch offered to nearly 200 needy people. Volunteers from the Cathedral are welcome to join the crew from LCC

2. During coffee hour, Janet King and Amy German will show off the refurbished figures for the Cathedral’s crêche which have been repainted and given new clothes.

3. Frank Diké will lead the first of the Bible studies planed for Advent. Information and scripture references were attached to last week’s bulletin and Newsletter. The group will discuss the readings, psalm and sermon heard at the 10 am service this Sunday. Meeting place – the chapel.

[FYI—For next week (December 3), Peter Huish writes: “Participants may review all the Sunday readings in advance though the study method to be used does not require pre-reading. It is based in fact on initial spontaneous response to the text followed by deepening reflected response. We will focus on one text only.” The scriptures for Dec. 3 are Isaiah 64:1-9, Psalm 80, 1Corinthians:3-9, and Mark 13:24-37.]

4, Also after coffee, the capital Campaign Cabinet team invites people to meet with them in the Undercroft to learn more about the fund raising for the restoration of the spire. The team wants to have met eventually with everyone in the parish. Meanwhile, do visit the Spire blog to see videos and read fascinating articles https://campaign.montrealcathedral.ca. This week Remrov’s artwork is featured. He describes his artwork in a charming short video.

5.Following the bible study and campaign meeting you can join some of the members of the Social Justice Action group in the undercroft. Brenda Linn writes “Anyone interested in becoming involved in this group, or simply in learning more about what we are doing, is most welcome to attend. If possible, please bring a bit of finger food to share (e.g., a piece of cheese, or a box of crackers, or a few grapes or clementines). We will be talking about the Montreal Urban Aboriginal Health Centre, proposing it as a recipient for SJAG’s outreach money, and – very urgently – what we can do to support Yevgeniya’s mother in her application to join her daughter in Canada. We will also be discussing plans for the New Year.”

5. During Coffee Hour, either this week or next, people will have an opportunity to sign letters in support of Yevgeniya’s mother.   This  Letter from Yevgeniya re bringing mother to Canada  explains that her application to sponsor her mother as an immigrant has been denied on the grounds of her health issues. People can also sign a petition supporting a TRC call to action on the creation of a smudging room in a Montreal hospital. A smudging room would offer First Nations patients and their families a safe and sacred space in an environment that can feel overwhelming and alien. Sign a letter right after the service and/or come and learn more at the SJAG meeting

6. You might want to finish the afternoon by attending evensong, or listening to it on the radio at FM 91.3, radio Ville Marie. The music includes the lovely introit by Charles Wood “Never Weather-beaten Sail”

Advent begins next Sunday (Dec 3). Joseph Hafner and Lisa Middlemiss have four Fair Trade chocolate Advent Calendars left to sell at $12 each, available during coffee hour. They are also inviting anyone who wants to order a christmas basket of Fair Trade goods to contact them at fairtrade@montrealcathedral.ca

Whatever your chocolate status you are invited to come – and bring friends – to the candlelit Advent Carol Service next Sunday (Dec 3) at 4 pm. Words and music in this gorgeous liturgy will prepare us for the birth of Christ.

For a complete list of Advent and Christmas services and concerts please see the cathedral’s web site. Thank you Elizabeth Shama for the attractive format of the poster. We still need a few more stewards for the extra services. The sign-up sheet will be at the back of the church on Sunday.

There is still some room left for the Quiet Day to be held at Diocesan College on Saturday, Dec. 2, with the theme “Godly Work: What Are We Waiting For?” 9:00 – 4:00. Lunch and snacks provided. Please register with Rev. Jennifer Bourque. jbourque@montreal.anglican.ca Space will be limited so do register, please.

Forum met on Tuesday and included a presentation from our treasurer Jane Aitkens comparing actual to budget figures for the year to October. They made enjoyable reading as revenue is up and expenses are down.

The LGBTQ+ film festival is starting this week. Le festival de films LGBTQ+ commence cette semaine. The Nov 23 issue of the Gazette contained an article and an editorial about the festival. Some members of the cathedral’s LGBTQ+ group are already going to a couple of films, including Hello Again next Saturday, December 2, at 7 p.m. You are welcome to join them. Buy your ticket on line to be sure it will be available the day of the viewing. Achetez vos billets d’avance pour être certain de les avoir! See this link Hello Again | IMAGE+NATION

If you’re free in the daytime make a note of the Potluck Lunch ‘n Chat which will be held noon till 1.30 Tuesday, December 5 in the Hollis Lounge. All welcome, freewill donation if you cannot bring food to share.

We had a nice piece of news from Tyson Røsberg, a member of our parish who is currently doing an in-ministry year at the American Cathedral in Paris – He sent a link to the sermon he preached there http://amcathparis.com/november-and-december

Oasis concerts continue every Saturday at 4:30. This week (Nov. 24) you can hear a choral concert “From Monteverdi to Debussy” directed by Gohar Manvelyan. The programme will explore three eras of choral music: Renaissance, Baroque and Impressionism The Renaissance will be presented in the madrigals of Monteverdi, the Baroque era in the works of J.S. Bach and D. Buxtehude, the Impressionism will be presented in the œuvre of C. Debussy.

Thomas Campion, Renaissance poet, composer and scholar, lived in England during the sometimes troubled reigns of Elizabeth I and James I. I think we might all be able to relate to his prayer as we contemplate our own uncertain times. There are many You Tube performances – or you can listen to our choir during Evensong on Sunday.

Neuer weather-beaten Saile more willing bent to shore,
neuer tyred Pilgrims limbs affected slumber more,
than my wearied spright now longs to flye out of my troubled brest :
O come quickly, sweetest Lord, and take my soule to rest.
Euer-blooming are the ioys of Heau’ns high paradice,
cold age deafes not there our eares, nor vapour dims our eyes:
glory there the Sun outshines, whose beames the blessed onely see;
O come quickly, glorious Lord, and raise my spright to thee.

Ann Elbourne