Trinity Sunday (what does it mean?) – articles about Bertrand Olivier and Patrick Wedd in the June issue of the Montreal Anglican – also an article by Lisa Middlemiss about Fair Trade – Honouring Patrick – Summer Reading: sign up to read with a group of new or old friends and discuss  – Reminders of events – Malcolm Guite on Contemplating the Trinity

Dear Friend of the Cathedral

This Sunday is Trinity Sunday when we stretch our minds and imaginations to praise our triune God, a difficult theological concept which has been explained in many creative ways. Here’s an amusing theological and historical explanation in verse parodying Stanley Holloway or come to church on Sunday to sing St Patrick’s Breastplate and hear Jen Bourque preach. The Sunday bulletin includes this simple statement of belief:

We believe that God is Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe that God is not only the source of all life and the creator of all things, but that God became a human being in Jesus, and is also vulnerable and sacrificial and shares the experiences, both good and bad, of our human life.  God is also Holy Spirit, the soft small voice inspiring each one of us and the great mighty strength inside each one us which enables us all to do great and good things.

MONTREAL ANGLICAN – JUNE ISSUE OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO THE CATHEDRAL

The June issue of the Montreal Anglican features articles on Patrick Wedd and Bertrand Olivier and an article by Lisa Middlemiss about Fair Trade at the Cathedral, as well as a great photograph of Tyson Røsberg wreathed in incense and swinging a thurible at a cathedral service.

The whole issue makes absorbing reading, but the three articles mentioned above are particularly interesting to cathedral members. Gwenda Wells pays tribute to Patrick, Lisa explains the importance of Fair Trade, Bertrand describes the challenges faced by a Dean of Montreal and explains his vision:

A Cathedral, like any other church, is a visible symbol of the presence of God in the world, and Christ Church Cathedral, with its spire pointing to the sky in the midst of steel and glass buildings that are far taller, but focused on the earth, is a vital symbol reminding all those who work, shop or play around St Catherine Street and beyond that God is there with them, in their joys, sorrows and every moment of the day.” He adds, “Symbols are important, in a world where visual communication surrounds us all…

Glenda Wells quotes from John Simons’ speech given when Patrick was made an honorary Doctor of Divinity at Diocesan College in 2003:

“His music ministry was central to our mission,” former principal John Simons said, “because the church exists to worship God, and music is not incidental to worship… it’s both visceral and spiritual, gathering the whole person into a corporate sacrifice of praise. … In Patrick’s compositions and playing, we hear all creation, the ‘voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and mighty thunder-peals’ (Rev. 19.6) heralding the fullness of time!”

But don’t be content with these extracts, do read all three articles.

Here again is the link to the celebrations of Patrick’s ministry on the weekend of June 16/17.  

I’m also repeating the invitation from the Music Committee to honour Patrick as he retires. Please spread it among your friends.

      Prior to the celebratory June 16-17 weekend honouring our retiring music director, Patrick Wedd, the Music Committee will be collecting contributions for a retirement gift, as well as donations to the newly established Patrick Wedd Music Fund, honoring his legacy and benefiting the music program. If you would like to contribute, please speak to Beth Adams, Veronica McDermott, or Bob Gibson. You can also contact Elizabeth in the office to arrange an e-transfer or credit card payment.  Please make cheques payable to Christ Church Cathedral, with a note that it is for the PW Music fund OR the retirement gift.  (PW music fund donations of $20 or more will receive a charity receipt.)

      For the festive farewell party honouring Patrick on Sunday, June 17, after Evensong, we are also seeking volunteer bakers who would be willing to make strawberry shortcakes . If you would like to help, please let the same people know as mentioned above.        

SUMMER READING – LOOKING FOR A GOOD BOOK?

If you’re like me you already have a pile of books waiting to be read during the summer holidays, but no particular plans to discuss the books with anyone else. Members of Episkopé suggest we might like to be involved in a “group read” in which a number of people read the same book and meet casually with other readers of the same book – They have chosen four great books (links lead you to descriptions of them)

Atul Gawande   Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End

Kate Hennessy   Dorothy Day: The World Will be Saved by Beauty

David Adams Richards  God Is: My Search for Faith in a Secular World

James KA Smith  You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit

Sign up and read one of the four! then come together in August with others who have read that book to discuss it over food and drink. Sign-up sheets will be in the Baptistry on June 03. Please also consider being a host for a book discussion in August. I’m off to the bookstore this very afternoon!

REMINDERS OF EVENTS

1. LGBTQ+ Event!  ‘Pot luck’ Picnic in the park, this Saturday, May 26, 6 p.m. Parc Lafontaine  rsvp Jean-Jacques Goulet.
2. L’Oasis Musicale concerts Saturday May 26, 4:30pm. Jardin des Roses, Gerda Findeisen, soprano, Maude Paradis, mezzo-soprano, Louise-Andrée Baril, piano.  www.oasismusicale.ca.
3. Prayer ministry Sunday May 27 11:45 Gathering of eucharistic prayer ministers in the Chapter House.
4. Last Sunday in the month lunch. Thank you to a Selwyn House School parent for sponsorship.
5. ***Notice of  Special Vestry Meeting***

A special vestry meeting of Christ Church Cathedral will be held on Sunday, June 3, 11:45 am in the Cathedral to receive financial statements for 2017.  There will also be an update on the Major Fundraising Campaign.  All members of the Cathedral are asked to attend.

6. Lunch n Chat: June 5^th, noon till 2 pm. Hollis Lounge

CONTEMPLATING THE TRINITY

He calls us out of darkness, chaos, chance,
To improvise a music of our own,
To sing the chord that calls us to the dance,
Three notes resounding from a single tone,
To sing the End in whom we all begin;
Our God beyond, beside us, and within.

-Malcolm Guite (2012)

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!

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