Jerusalem Sunday – Justice – Fair Trade boutique, amnesty letter-writing, Toys for Syrian children – Follow-up to meeting about Indian Act – LGBTQ+ picnic – Recap of Monday’s Convocation at Dio – Fun, flowers and volunteering – Important workshop for readers and intercessors – Forum – meetings of Hungry Minds, PPP, Reading Group – Sunday evening two contrasting services – Oasis concert Beethoven & Chopin – Summer job for a student
Dear Friend of the Cathedral
This Sunday is both Mothers Day and Jerusalem Sunday, the first a reason for celebration, the other a chance to pray about our concerns about the Church in a dangerous part of the world, but both an expression of God’s loving care and a reason to be thankful for God’s mercies.
On Sunday Christ Church Cathedral joins churches throughout the Anglican Church in Canada in praying for the people of Jerusalem and for God’s mission in the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem which extends over Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. You can discover more about the “living stones”—the people of this diocese–in a short video about the people and places that make up the Diocese of Jerusalem. Let us pray for this land called “holy” and for the multitudes of our world who look to it as the place of their spiritual origin, return, and culmination; Jew, Muslim, and Christian. Bishop Mary is leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land Feb 12–22 in 1919. If you’re interested contact Robert Camara.
JUSTICE
Our Cathedral supports justice in several ways. This Sunday you will have the opportunity to shop at the Fair Trade Kiosque and to write letters or sign postcards supporting Amnesty International’s efforts to help victims of persecution and injustice. Soon we will welcome a family from Syria (please see last week’s newsletter) Gabrielle Boyd is collecting toys and art materials for the children, two boys aged 6 & 10 and a girl aged 8.
The meeting last Saturday with Joe Deom discussing the Indian Act and Indigenous Rights seems to have been very interesting. Bill C262 asking that the government bring Canadian law into harmony with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is soon to have its third reading. If you are interested in taking action in support of Indigenous Rights, you can find out how your MP voted on the second reading by visiting Open Parliament and then send him or her an email expressing your support for the bill. Jan Jorgensen has sent us this link to the KAIROS letter-writing campaign which is organizing support for the bill.
Kairos is a Greek word that means “the right, critical, or opportune moment.” They started out as a Christian ecumenical group, now evolving to include other faith groups. In case you are not familiar with KAIROS here is a link. In Quebec we also have ROJEP (Le Réseau œcuménique justice, écologie et paix) who have created a Blanket Exercise that especially reflects Quebec history.
LGBTQ PICNIC
Jean-Jacques Goulet sends this cheerful invitation to the LGBTQ+ community
Spring greetings, l’été arrive!
It is time to mark your calendars for our next LGBTQ event!
Le temps est arrivé, marquez vos agendas pour notre prochain évènement LGBTQ!
A park Picnic au Parc
When/Quand?
Saturday May 26, 6 p.m./ samedi, le 26 mai à 18:00
Where/Où?
Parc Lafontaine, devant le/in front of 3984 ave P. L.
WHAT TO BRING/QUOI APPORTER?
Everything you need for a shared picnic /Tout ce qu’il vous faut pour un picnic partagé
RSVP
THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION FOR EVERYONE
Another very happy event was the Convocation of Montreal Diocesan Theological College held last Monday, May 7. Vivian Lewin, our on the spot journalist, has sent us a report about that joyful celebration of Education. Full account, photos, and links to photo album here. Parishioners Tania Lesack and Joel Amis both graduated with the M. Div. degree. Tania received two awards including one for Preaching (a memorable sermon on Cranmer was cited); Joel received multiple awards too, including being voted by his fellow students as having made the most substantial contribution to student life during the year. Jeffrey Mackie who continues his studies received the Frank and Jocelyne Toope Memorial Bursary. Fred Hiltz our Primate received the honorary degree D.D. and gave a moving address. He was interviewed on Facebook Live the next day by Lee Ann Matthews (one of the three EFM graduates). Lay Reader Marian Dagher and former churchwarden Randy Gates also completed the four year EFM program. The EFM group meets at the college every week during the year (September to June) and is now taking registrations for next year’s program.
The Primate (“call me Fred”) had bookmarks printed for the Convocation with the crest of Dio and this prayer from the Book of Common Prayer, with which he said his professor of systematic theology began each class In addition to supporting theological education with personal and collective prayer, we’re all invited to become members of the new Corporation with a link to the “subscription form” on that page; here are words from Rhonda Waters “Why I am a member.”
FOR VOLUNTEERS NEW AND ONGOING….
There are many opportunities for ministry around the cathedral. Here’s one you might not have considered. FUN, FLOWERS and VOLUNTEERING: Looking for a new hobby that combines these three? Come & join our Cathedral Flower Guild community. We offer flexible schedules for the busy and not so busy. OR consider Brass with Class? Winnin’ Linen? Interested? Please speak to Rob Wells.
Our readers and intercessors make a very important contribution to Sunday services.
If this is something which interests you, or in which you are already involved, please HOLD THIS DATE:
Workshop for readers and intercessors Saturday, June 2. Introduction for NEW readers and VITAL REFRESHER for all who share this important ministry. Pro tips on how to use your voice effectively, claim your space calmly, prepare, breathe, and enjoy! Starts at 9:30 with coffee/ includes a light lunch/ ends by 3:15. Opportunity to practice in both English and French. Sign-up information coming soon.
MORE MEETINGS!
All parishioners are invited to attend the meeting of Forum next Tuesday, May 15 at 6:30. Minutes of the most recent meeting and two committee reports were attached to the email version of this letter. You might be surprised to learn that Forum meetings are actually fun—and your input is valuable.
Also fun are the meetings of the cathedral’s reading group. We will be getting together on June 10 at 7 pm to discuss The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson. Talk to Ann (Elbourne), Jane Aitkens, Diana Bouchard, Edward Yanke, or Peggy Simpson to find out where we’re meeting.
Other regular meetings of Cathedral groups are Hungry Minds for young adults on Wednesday evenings with supper and bible study – speak to Jean-Daniel – Pain partage et prière, the French bible study and prayer group which will have its next meeting on Sunday, May 20, at 2pm in the Hollis Lounge – speak to Jean-Jacques.
SUNDAY EVENING: CHOOSE ONE OR BOTH OF THESE SERVICES!
Once a month a six o’clock service, La Cathédrale, le soir, is added to the regular roster of Cathedral services. This is an informal service with contemporary music led by Zack Ingles and has been steadily growing in popularity. You can enjoy the service this Sunday evening with Jean Daniel celebrating and Steve McAuley preaching. However, if you prefer an evening service with traditional music, Choral Evensong at 4 pm will waft you to an angelic plane with choral music by Gerald Finzi, Michael Tippet, and Orlando Gibbons, and organ voluntaries by William Mathias and Augustinus Kropfeiter.
OASIS MUSICALE
Oasis Musicale hosts a concert every Saturday at 4:30 pm. There are no tickets, but audience members are asked to give a donation to the musicians. This Saturday the concert will be given by Luke Welch, on the piano. His performance will explore “ Beethoven’s unparalleled creativity, and the artistic brilliance of Chopin” with Beethoven’s Rondos op.51,and Sonate en la bémol majeur op.26, and Chopin’s Scherzo no.1 op.20, Scherzo no.3 op.39
STUDENT EMPLOYMENT
The Cathedral has obtained a government grant allowing us to hire a summer student to be a visitors’ guide. Details about the job can be found on the cathedral’s Facebook page. Please note the applicant must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and must be in the middle of their studies (i.e. completed at least one semester and returning in September)
If you’d like to know what’s happening around the diocese please look at http://www.montreal.anglican.ca/e-newsletter. You can sign up to receive this bi-weekly letter written by Nicki Hronjak. You can also send information about any event you are organizing for the church.
Wishing you a happy Mothers Day with thankful hearts containing good memories of your childhood.
Ann Elbourne
To receive this Newsletter earlier by email, and with it, additions like the Forum agenda, financial updates, minutes and reports, posters, photos, etc., simply send your coordinates to the Cathedral office… the failsafe method is to email both Newsletter author and parish volunteer Ann Elbourne cath_communication@bellnet.ca and Parish Administrator Elizabeth Shama cathoff@bellnet.ca.
MORE WAYS TO KEEP IN TOUCH
Subscribe to the Cathedral’s regular capital campaign blog, RISING UP, edited by Hélène Montpetit, a super variety of photo- and video- essays on the life of this place.
Souscrire à l’edition français VISER HAUT!
Subscribe to our diocese’s e-newsletter, published every two weeks.
LIKE the Cathedral’s Facebook page and if you want to spread the word, comment on posts and share them.