C h r i s t ’ s C h u r c h C a t h e d r a l Summer 2012
252 James Street North, Hamilton, Ontario L8R 2L3
In This Issue
From the Editor ······················································································ 3
Peter’s Perspective ·················································································· 4
Pastoral Care ························································································ 7
Warden’s World ····················································································· 8
Organist Search Committee ······································································· 9
Passages ································································································ 9
Boston ································································································· 10
Undermount Conversation ······································································· 11
Mark Your Calendar ··············································································· 12
When Two Worlds Collide ········································································ 13
Sharing Our History ··············································································· 14
Maker’s Market ····················································································· 16
AF&F ································································································· 17
Memorial Flowers ·················································································· 18
3...2...1...Contact ···················································································· 20
Cathedrals in the 21st Century ·································································· 21
Financial Update ···················································································· 22
2
From the Editor
I was happy to see the Diocese of Niagara together with some Cathedralites and others participate in the recent protest (June 18) against the changes to the Interim Federal Health Program, which go into effect on June 30th. This is the program that used to provide broad healthcare coverage to refugee claimants, including resettled refugees. The action was an appeal to our Federal government to recon- sider these changes that will negatively impact many new entrants to our country. And as Christians, we are indeed called to act against injustices wherever they occur. If you are interested in learning more about the new program, please refer to:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/refugees/outside/summary-ifhp.asp
As social justice is our focus for this year, you may want to give some thought as to whether a letter to your MP might be appropriate.
Going on at great length about one’s political views is frequently unwise so I’ll move on…
In our summer issue of Contact, we highlight some of the season’s most notable events...Makers’ Mar- ket and our presence during Art Crawl—Sharing our History. We also recount some recent happen- ings—Boston, When Two Worlds Collide, and Undermount Conversation. Peter tells us about his re- cent trip to Jerusalem, and Anne Harvey returns from the Dean’s Conference with some questions for us to ponder on—Cathedrals in the 21st Century.
It’s easy for us to lose touch with each other over the summer months, so consider attending your first AF&F and see what everyone’s up to or perhaps look into how you can play a role in Pastoral Care.
Have a safe, happy, and long summer. Contact will be back in the fall.
Paula Esteves
Have a comment or idea to share?
You can get in touch with the Editors of Contact (Paula Esteves and Anne Harvey) via email at [email protected]. Or write to us c/o the Church Office at 252 James St. N.
Return to Table of Contents 3
Peter’s Perspective
‘Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem’
To pray these words from Psalm 122 while sitting in St. George’s Cathedral in Jerusalem has a particular poignancy to it; to hear the words from the first chapter of the Book of Acts in the first reading on Ascension Day: ‘While staying with them, he (Jesus) ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait there for the prom- ise of the Father’ (1.4a) carries with it an awareness of the sweep of religious history in this amazing city.
Jerusalem is a city of hills and valleys – I swear there is not 20 linear feet which is flat! Scripture makes several references to `going up to Jerusa- lem`- and up is the word! The altitude of the Old City is close to 3800 feet above sea level; the main part of the newer city is at about 2700 feet. Com- pare that to Tel Aviv – a scant hour away to the west (on the Mediterranean coast, at a mere 114 feet above sea level), and the Dead Sea - approxi- mately 20 miles east of Jerusalem – the lowest point on earth, where the surface of the Dead Sea is 1384 feet below sea level!!
To be in Jerusalem is to climb and descend and to be amazed by vistas and views, in virtually every direction. Jerusalem is on the edge of a desert – it is hot and dry and magnificently sunny, virtually all of the time. Because of a city ordinance, dating back to the 40`s, all building in Jerusalem – commercial and residential – must be faced in what is called ‘Jerusalem stone’- white stone which is everywhere. There is a dramatic monochromatic reality to Jerusalem which is breathtaking.
It is, of course, one of the oldest cities on earth – indeed local historians and archeologists describe present day Jerusalem as the seventh Jerusalem – they have excavated six more below the current city! In the midst of this wondrous place lies the Old City – the part of Jerusalem which we hear described in the bible – with mas- sive walls and gates. Within the Old City are the ruins of The Temple (destroyed in 70 CE) with its western wall being the only remaining piece – the most sacred spot for Jews. Also, close to the Western Wall is the Dome of the Rock (with its distinctive gold dome), a most holy place for Muslims. Close by is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher – claimed to be the location of the tomb in which Jesus’ body was placed between the cru- cifixion and the resurrection. (However, there is another place just outside the wall of the city near the Da- mascus Gate called ‘The Garden Tomb’ – an alternate choice for the same event!) Only in Jerusalem!!! The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is divided among six Christian denominations: Armenian Orthodox, Greek Or- thodox, Roman Catholic, Egyptian Coptic, Ethiopian, and Syrian Orthodox. Each denomination has its own space (right down to lines drawn on the floors) and schedules of times to be in other parts of the church for services etc. It really has to be seen to be believed. As well as many, many churches, synagogues, and mosques, the Old City includes monasteries, schools, residences, and all sort of wonderful shops, including a wonderful spice market. It is a rabbit warren of old, worn streets, a cacophony of sounds, and a cornucopia of aromas! All this and the requisite tourist group singing or saying the Stations of the Cross on the Via Doloro- sa, which cuts right through the heart of the Arabic market. One of the highlights of this particular trip to Je-
(Continued on page 5)
4
(Continued from page 4) rusalem for me was to walk the ramparts – walking on top of the city wall almost completely around the city – a long and arduous route of up and down old and steep stairs and roughly hewn stone walkways, but well worth the views and perspectives.
Outside of the most idiosyncratic and engrossing place is a whole cosmopolitan city – the larger western por- tion largely Jewish and Israeli and the (smaller and poorer) eastern portion largely Palestinian and Muslim, with Christians sprinkled amongst both, but mostly in East Jerusalem. Jerusalem’s history is redolent with wars, battles, occupation, invasion, and defence. It is deeply interesting and hard to pigeon-hole – there seems to be everything for everyone! While there is a majority of Palestinians in east Jerusalem, Jerusalem itself is not, officially at least, a divided city, although it often feels as if it were. East Jerusalem is really a part of the West Bank, although the infamous wall or fence (as it is called) is right at the eastern edge, and must be crossed to go to Bethlehem (about 10 km) or to Ramallah, Nablus, and other Palestinian communities. Many Palestinians live in Bethlehem and work in Jerusalem, so their commute is made very difficult by having to get to a checkpoint and spend time in line trying to cross.
Such is life in this beautiful but confounding and complex, grace-filled, and wondrous piece of creation. The life of the Christian church is one, of course, of a very small minority, living with two huge neighbours – Islam and Judaism, who don’t get along very well. Thus, the role of Christians in the Middle East is, particularly through their institutions of schools, hospitals, etc., one of presence. The Christian church clearly has a long and important history in the Holy Land and its impact is felt throughout the area. The future of the church is difficult, since the painful political and social realities are driving people away in record numbers.
This is one of the reasons that my recent trip, as part of an ecumenical group, was so important...... more in the next issue of CONTACT.
PAW
Return to Table of Contents 5
Fellow travellers—Archbishop Fred Hiltz, ELCIC National Bishop Susan Johnson, Sam Carriere Communications Director AIC, ELCIC Bishop Michael Pryse
Garden - St. George’s College, Jerusalem
Return to Table of Contents 6
Pastoral Care of the Cathedral Congregation
When Dean Peter and I met last December about the position of Associate Priest, he told me that one of the priorities was coordinating pastoral care of the congregation. It has been my privilege to work with the pasto- ral care team – Jeni Darling, Richard Dawson, Tim and Gail Huxley, Jean Livingston, Rev. Ann Macdonald, Irene Maycock, and Canon Bill Thomas – who, along with Dean Peter and me visit those of our congregation who are “shut in” or hospitalized. (Jeni Darling and Gail Huxley have withdrawn from the committee, but I name them here to recognize their contribution to the work of this team in the past few years.)
“Pastoral care” is one way for the congregation to fulfill its baptismal responsibility to “continue in the apostles’ fellowship” – particularly by including those whom we no longer see at worship on Sunday. In our rather vague sense of what membership in a congregation means, it is easy for someone to be abandoned when their circumstances mean that they are not able to come to worship on a regular basis. Yet they are still part of our church family.
Pastoral visitors generally are in contact with a set of parishioners roughly every month, either by telephone or personal visits. They will bring news of the congregation and, with appropriate training, provide spiritual sup- port for the circumstances which the person being visited may be facing. It is a position of trust and confiden- tiality, for those whom we visit are generally vulnerable – from temporary or permanent illness or incapacity.
Some of the people whom we visit are not totally house-bound: it is just that the logistics of travel make get- ting to church on Sunday mornings very difficult. We invited 19 of our “shut-in” individuals or families to a mid-day Eucharist and lunch on Wednesday May 30. Ten were able to accept the invitation, and they were joined by fifteen of those whom we see more regularly. With the help of Bryan Stopps, Alison Meredith and Ron Cooper, we worshiped together, enjoyed a leisurely lunch and time for conversation. We all had a won- derful time together.
If you are interested in becoming a pastoral visitor, please speak to me for more details about what this minis- try entails. If you know of someone who is no longer able to come to worship on a regular basis, please let either Dean Peter or me – or Alison Meredith – know, and we will arrange for someone to come to visit.
Sue Channen
Presented by Rear Admiral The Reverend Canon Kenneth J Summers, President, Bill Thomas Naval Association of Canada receiving the Queen Elizabeth II In recognition of two decades of Diamond Jubilee Medal preserving and promoting the HMCS Bytown Wardroom, values and traditions of the June 3, 2012 Royal Canadian Navy
Return to Table of Contents 7
Warden’s World
If one’s first words on entering Christ’s Church Cathedral include “Wow!”, it is usually a safe assumption that they have never been in our cathedral before. It is a common reaction during the Art Crawl and Doors Open. We have a fantastic building of great architectural merit, and yet we have so much more.
It always amazes me (not a Hamilton native) that so many civic leaders of Hamilton’s history have connections to the cathedral. Sir Allan MacNab was the chairman of the building committee struck in 1835 to build on land given by Nathaniel Hughson. George Hamilton, for whom the city is named, offered land in the Corktown neighbourhood but it was considered a bit too far away and not accessible by water as the chosen site was at the time. Richard Beasley is buried in what remains of the church cemetery. We have the reredos given as a me- morial by the Southam family and the altar from the Glassco family. You cannot live in this city, or drive its streets, without encountering these names.
As an aside, I find it interesting that so many of these notable names had such strong church connections. I sup- pose it could be argued that they would not have been elected civic leaders in their day without being known to be committed church members. It makes me wonder if our current civic leaders would be so strongly affiliated with any church or one of its programmes.
Not having grown up Anglican, I like that we belong to something bigger than just our immediate congregation. I first realized that when visiting St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. John and I were touring the building, but in the choir there was a small service taking place. The priest said “May the Lord be with you” and we knew the response was “and also with you.” It was a small thing, but it meant a lot to us.
I loved the story told by one of our visiting preachers during our anniversary year. He grew up in St. Cath- arines, but one of his youth leaders felt that it was important for the group to understand what they were a part of, and so arranged a field trip to the Cathedral. The bus pulled up to the Cathedral of Christ the King and all were suitably impressed. After the leader waxed rhapsodic about the mother church of the diocese, he went in to arrange their tour, only to be told that they were at the wrong cathedral. They got back on the bus to come to Christ’s Church Cathedral, which in its overgrown pre-Bishopsgate days was obviously not as impressive as the exterior of Christ the King. He recalled, however, that they came in, were impressed by its beauty and definite- ly realized they were part of something bigger than their small parish in St. Catharines.
As John and I travel, we often visit churches wherever we are. We have visited many beautiful buildings, but not as often had the chance to attend services in them. I think that this is the experience of many of our visitors at Art Crawl. They do not get the chance to partake of the wonderful community that we have here.
We have such a caring community of which I love being a part. We reach out in so many ways - through the Breakfast programme, the distribution of meal tickets, and even just allowing other groups to use our facilities. There is always the hope that our open doors and place in the community may draw some of our visitors back to us for more than just a brief visit. I also hope that they may feel comfortable enough to come to us in a time of need.
Last week there was an editorial in the Spec by Hamilton resident and environmental advocate Jim Howlett en- titled “Reclaiming our core, one Crawl at a time”. In it he spoke about the May Art Crawl (where we had 2200 people come through the Cathedral). He talked about the churches being open - us, New City and the offices of TrueCity, an alliance of churches pursuing the best for Hamilton - and ended that section by saying “Jesus is smiling just out of sight”. It is a beautiful image and I am glad that Christ’s Church Cathedral is a part of it.
Lori-Lyn Bradley
Return to Table of Contents 8
Organist Search Committee
As reported in the last issue of CONTACT, the Committee received in excess of 20 applications for the posi- tion and narrowed these down to 8, of which 5 were called for an interview and the remaining 3 held in reserve in the event that further interviews were required.
The committee conducted 5 interviews over the course of April and May. Each meeting consisted of an in depth interview with the committee, conducting the choir on 2 pieces specifically selected by us, playing the organ with pieces of the candidate’s choice, and playing 4 hymns of our choosing.
Feedback was requested and received from the choir and the committee itself deliberated at length before mak- ing a recommendation to the Corporation to offer one of the 5 candidates the position. Corporation accepted the committee’s report and an offer was made to this candidate.
On behalf of the Organist Search Committee and the Corporation, I am pleased to announce that Michael Bloss has accepted the position of Organist and Director of Music, effective August 1, 2012.
Michael has a Bachelor of Music in piano and organ performance from the University of Western Ontario and a Master of Music in organ performance from the University of Toronto. He is well known for his playing abilities and is a frequent accompanist for the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and the Elora Festival Singers. Mi- chael has also performed numerous recitals in Europe, Japan and throughout Canada and the USA. He has held, among many posts, notable positions at Timothy Eaton Memorial in Toronto and St. James Cathedral in Toronto. We are excited that Michael has agreed to join us and we look forward to his arrival in August!
May I take this opportunity to thank fellow committee members: Peter Wall, Paula Esteves, Jeni Darling, Oli- ver Wesley-James, Brian Kreps, Michael Hannigan and David Low. A special thanks also goes to our choir for putting in all the extra rehearsals and for providing us with their insightful feedback of all the candidates.
J. Lefebvre Chair, Organist Search Committee
Passages Deaths: Confirmation: Baptisms:
The Rt. Rev. Samuel Kehinde Cheyenne Jasmine Thompson Mikayla May-Lynn Ivanore April 14, 2012 May 6, 2012 Zachariah Neil Michael Noreen Wigle Stephenson April 25, 2012 May 6, 2012 Fred Martin May 9, 2012
Phillip Wright May 10, 2012
Return to Table of Contents 9
Boston, Boston North and Cape Cod – 3rd Annual Cathedral Excursion May 3-7, 2012
Things didn’t look too promising, weather-wise, as Cathedral intrepid travelers plus others from the Diocese headed for downtown Boston on an overcast Friday morning. Fortunately, the rain held off and, in fact, by Sat- urday afternoon the sun was shining.
Boston, of course, is where the American Revolu- tion began and, interestingly, although many Americans seem to prefer the term “War of Inde- pendence,” Bostonians call it the Revolution. En- tering historic Boston, we stopped at Haymarket to pick up our guide and soon after disembarked in the North End where we made our way to the Old North Church. Built in 1723, this church is fa- mous for its association with Paul Revere’s (and some 40 other horsemen’s) ride in 1775 to warn surrounding villages of the approach of British sol- diers. Two lanterns hung from the steeple of the Old North Church were the signal that the British were coming by sea.
Having viewed this wonderful old Episcopalian church, we continued along the Freedom Trail to the Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, one of two origi- nal cemeteries holding the remains of Boston’s prominent historical figures. The Freedom Trail, a 2.5 mile marked walking path through old Boston, features dozens of sites associated with the Revo- lution such as Faneuil Hall and the Old State House, as well as original churches like the King’s Chapel (1686), the Boston Common, old market places including Quincy Market and Haymarket, and Paul Revere’s house. We were able to board the USS Constitution (1797), berthed at the Charlestown Navy Yard, which is also along this trail.
A long break at midday allowed people to explore on their own. Afterward we climbed aboard our coach once more to visit several sites including Harvard University campus. In the evening we saw the wildly entertaining Shear Madness reported to be the longest running play in America.
Over the next two days we visited small towns to the immediate north of Boston and, to the south, Cape Cod including Plymouth and Hyannis (of Kennedy fame). Steeped in early American history, these places mark the sites of first European settlement of what is now the USA. We heard again of the far-reaching witch hunt in Salem as we walked through a memorial park for the twenty “witches” who in 1692 were hanged or, in one case, pressed to death. While the Pilgrims left England in search of religious freedom, there wasn’t much free- dom within the Puritan faith. One could be punished even for smiling in church.
In Gloucester we got a lesson in “how to eat a lobsta” or, more precisely, how to take apart a lobster in a sys- tematic manner in order to be able to eat it. We all wore lobster bibs for good measure however. And the clam chowder with corn bread was out of this world.
(Continued on page 11)
10
(Continued from page 10)
Beaches, fishing boats, craft stores, memorials to fishermen and their families, and a JFK memorial in Hyannis were some of the many sights in this beautiful area. Although bridge construction delayed our return to Plym- outh, we were able to get a quick look at the Mayflower II, a replica of the original. It was hard to imagine how 102 people, along with farm animals and six months of supplies, could fit into that tiny little tub. And it took them 66 days to cross the Atlantic. We also saw the Rock ….
A highlight of the trip, of course, was the Sunday morning service in the Old North Church. The Rev. Stephen Ayers, originally from Canada, presided.
It was a great trip – we saw a lot, ate too much and had many laughs. Next year it’s Philadelphia. Come along!
Janina Vanderpost
Undermount Conversation
Last November, the Bishop called together the churches in the Undermount Region of the Diocese – from St. Paul’s Westdale to St. John Winona – to begin to work out how we can do ministry together.
There was a follow-up meeting at the end of January, using a technique called “Open Space” – in which peo- ple chose topics of interest to them and were joined (or not) by others who found the topics to be of interest, too. Think of how conversations get going at coffee hour and you have an idea of what it was like. Due to some communication mishaps, I was the sole Cathedral representative at that meeting.
From that session, three topics were followed up to varying degrees: the four west-end churches (St. Paul’s Westdale, St. John’s Locke Street, Ascension and All Saints) had some further meetings together; there was interest in ministry to families and ministry to seniors.
After Easter we met again, with each church speaking about its Outreach or Mission work, looking for com- mon areas where we might support each other or work together. (In my mind Hamilton Out of the Cold was a model to consider: people volunteer on convenient nights, not necessarily at the church where they worship on Sundays.) About a dozen Cathedralites attended this meeting.
From that meeting, a number of working groups were established. Steve Varey and I are working with three others on Communication and Evangelism. (Seems an odd pairing until you ask: what are we communi- cating? how important it is in our lives that we are Christians, how being part of an Anglican community is a great thing!)
The next meeting is on June 25th. I’ll keep you posted.
Sue Channen
11 Return to Table of Contents
Mark Your Calendar
SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT
July & August: Cathedral Open 26 Eucharist 27 Eucharist 28 Eucharist 29 Community 30 for Tours on Tues, Wed, Thurs 7:30 am 12:15 12:15 Sisters & 12:15 11-2 Prayer Breakfast Shawl 1-3 9:30 am Mulberry July 2 Cathedral Place 3 Eucharist 4 Eucharist 5 Eucharist 6 Cathedral 7 closed for Cana- 7:30 am 12:15 12:15 Place closed 1 One Service & 12:15 9:30 am da Day Prayer Fridays in AF&F 6-8 pm Shawl 1-3 July & Bermingham/ August Sedran
8 One Service 9 10 Eucharist 11 Eucharist 12 Eucharist 13 James North 14 9:30 am 7:30 am 12:15 12:15 Art Crawl & 12:15 Prayer 7-11 pm Shawl 1-3
15 One Service 16 17 Eucharist 18 Eucharist 19 Eucharist 20 21 9:30 am 7:30 am 12:15 12:15 & 12:15 Prayer
22 One Service 23 24 Eucharist 25 Eucharist 26 Eucharist 27 Community 28 9:30 am 7:30 am 12:15 12:15 Sisters & 12:15 Prayer Breakfast Shawl 1-3 9:30 am Mulberry 29 One Service 30 31 Eucharist August 2 Eucharist 3 4 9:30 am 7:30 am 12:15 & 12:15 1 Eucharist 12:15 Prayer Shawl 1-3
5 One Service 6 Cathedral Place 7 Eucharist 8 Eucharist 9 Eucharist 10 James North 11 9:30 am closed for Civic 12:15 12:15 12:15 Art Crawl Holiday Prayer 7-11 pm Shawl 1-3
12 One Service 13 AF&F 6-8 pm 14 Eucharist 15 Eucharist 16 Eucharist 17 18 9:30 am Jeni & Sandy 12:15 12:15 12:15 Darling Prayer Shawl 1-3
19 One Service 20 21 Eucharist 22 Eucharist 23 Eucharist 24 25 9:30 am 12:15 12:15 12:15 Prayer Shawl 1-3
26 One Service 27 28 Eucharist 29 Eucharist 30 Eucharist 31 Community 9:30 am 12:15 12:15 12:15 Sisters Prayer Breakfast Shawl 1-3 9:30 am Mulberry
Return to Table of Contents 12
When Two Worlds Collide
You never know what is going to happen when two parts of your world collide. I learned something about this recently when I worked with several amateur photographer colleagues to put on a photography show at the Ca- thedral as part of the May Art Crawl.
A year and a half ago, my photography teacher at the Dundas Valley School of Art encouraged some of his students to consider mounting a show. Most of us had been taking photography classes for a number of years. Putting together a show would provide us with the opportunity, so he said, to take things to the next level. Many of us had become a little complacent in our routine. What we needed was the challenge of developing an art project with the knowledge that it would be seen by others.
A number of us embraced the challenge and agreed to start working on a show. What seemed straightforward quickly became much more complicated. We were ten in total. Most of us knew one another in passing, but few of us were friends. We struggled with where to start. We were all competent professionals in our daily life, yet we struggled with the logistics of planning for this show.
After months of stops and starts we finally decided that we needed to find a location and work backward from there. A number of locations were suggested. For one reason or another, they were each ruled out. Finally, I suggested the Cathedral. My fellow photographers liked the idea of presenting our artworks within the beauty of the Cathedral. They also liked the fact that the location on James Street North would give us easy access to Art Crawl crowds.
As I left the meeting, I remember being excited about having made a decision about a location. But there was something else that made me a little uncomfortable. I began thinking of all the challenges. How will we hang the photos? How will we light them? How will they fit into the space? What if my fellow Cathedralites don’t like the photos? What if they feel that this is an imposition or an inconvenience?
This is when it dawned on me that my malaise arose from the collision of two parts of my world. While the members of my photography group were generally level headed and pleasant people, I was concerned that they might not appreciate the Cathedral’s generosity. While I dearly love the Cathedral, it is a busy place filled with people with many opinions. I became very concerned that someone might feel that we were not using the space appropriately.
I have to say, I was ultimately delighted with the product of the merging of these two parts of my life. The show went up with only a few hitches and was viewed by many more visitors than we could have ever hoped for. Comments from visitors were generally positive. I breathed a sigh of relief that the show felt like a suc- cess.
It also felt like a success in that the melding of these two worlds went well. Members of the Cathedral’s coor- dinating committee were very supportive at every turn and even suggested that we open the show a week earli- er so it would be up for Doors Open. Roger, Nick, Dennis, and Turner were very helpful with scheduling meetings, suggestions on accessing power, retrieving ladders from the sin bin repeatedly.
I was also pleased with how my photographer colleagues rose to the occasion. They were respectful of the space and gentle in their use of the building. They expressed appreciation to staff and to the congregation’s generosity. They were so appreciative that they made a donation to the Cathedral.
So I will take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support. This was a big step for all of the photogra- phers as none of us had shown our work before. The Cathedral, both the building and the congregation, helped make this possible.
Brian Kreps
Return to Table of Contents 13
Sharing our History
Over the past ten years or so there has been a concerted effort by our congregation to be actively involved in the life of James Street North and our local community, as part of our outreach efforts. The development of Bishopsgate at the beginning of the new century changed our physical presence on the street and, at the same time, new faces, including artists and art galleries, appeared on the street.
Our new neighbors started the Art Crawl every second Friday of the month, and with Jenny Street as a catalyst between vendors and artists the Cathedral created Makers’ Market. These developments increased the oppor- tunity to open the Cathedral to our broader community beyond the established summer visiting program and Doors Open. As a result, visitors to the forecourt now have many opportunities to come inside to look beyond the somewhat austere face the building presents on James Street North.
The summer visiting hours and Doors Open provide visitors with a chance to see the building in daylight, ad- mire the windows and not have to be part of the throng. The first time we opened for the Art Crawl, we were thrilled to have 150 visitors – in April this year we had 1,300 visitors and over 2,000 in May!
When Makers’ Market began on Saturdays, we had an initial rush of visitors, and then the numbers evened out around 35 to 50 per day, and so we were able to interact more with our visitors. Makers’ Market now operates on the same night as the Art Crawl, and so we present a lively face to the street. Last September during eight hours of the Supercrawl we had 5,500 visitors and one do could little more than say “Welcome!”
New guides have been added to the roster; we have provided training opportunities and added to the materials available. We have a single sheet that highlights the Cathedral as a community and what we do on one side, and brief notes about the windows, woodwork and stone reredos on the other. Feedback has been excellent.
We also have an audio-tour on i-pods, which have been good for training guides, but we still have to use these to their full potential. A computer disk with text and photos has had slow and steady sales to those who want to know more. There are plans to add to our inventory of aides – all that is needed is time!
The Art Crawl with Makers’ Market in the summer has become our principal means of reaching many people, and we half-jokingly say that we have the best art on the street. During the time the Cathedral has been open in this way, we have been privileged to welcome many guests and to learn from their questions. We have the opportunity to observe reactions as people walk in, breath taken away by the height of the ceiling or the beauty of the stained glass. There are some who visit regularly to wander and look at their favorite parts of the build- ing. Some come to sit quietly in prayer or contemplation. There are regular visitors to the Aids Altar, others greatly moved by the fact that such a thing exists.
We encourage our guests to stroll everywhere in order to appreciate the fine woodwork and stone carving. We challenge the children to find “the dog, the dragon, and the lion” while we talk to their parents. It has been a treat to see our neighbours, who often would share information over the garden fence, step inside to look at the building, first the men and later their wives. Some of our visitors are reluctant to step into the Chancel but we encourage them to consider the space as God’s Art Gallery in order to better see the marvelous craftsmanship.
Guiding is fun and rewarding. We are always willing to welcome new members, even if all you want to do is say “Welcome to Christ’s Church Cathedral” with a big smile on your face and press a button to count how many come. Jeni and Sandy Darling
Return to Table of Contents 14
15
Maker’s Market
Over five years ago, a group of local artists, business owners and Cathedral members started on an experi- ment called Makers’ Market. James North was a differ- ent place at the time. Empty storefronts and a nine to five flow. The street became vacant every evening, summer or winter, workday or weekend.
2012 is a different story. Anyone that has spent time here on a Friday night over the last year knows that change is coming – new people, new vision, new stores, and new relationships being built within the immediate community and the greater city. And much of that ener- gy has its roots at the Cathedral.
One of the creators of the Market was Dave Kuruc of Mixed Media. He observes:" The Bishopsgate courtyard of Christ's Church Cathedral is an integral aspect of connecting the church to the community. Regular events such as Makers' Market, which welcomes the many people taking in the festivities of the monthly James North Art Crawl, should be encouraged to continue and showcase the Cathedral as a cornerstone of a renewed neighbourhood".
Part of the mandate of the Cathedral is to find new ways to reach out to the city, and if we look at the founding businesses that exist on James North today, we see that it was Makers’ Market that has been there in the begin- ning of this new wave of change and has earned a reputation amongst other businesses, the neighbourhood, and local artists and artisans.
With the unfailing support of Peter and a dedicated team of volunteers and staff, Makers' Market has offered leadership and the needed support and relationships that helped these businesses grow. So, who are these businesses? Quite simply, these first opportunities provided by the Market in the courtyard have led to a series of success stories that spill out onto James North and beyond.
On this street we have White Elephant, whose blog gets national attention, who have gone on to become leaders and mentors to the new stores that came after them. The owners of White Elephant were selling online and wondered if they could be successful with a bricks and mortar location. After testing the waters at a few of Markets, they opened a storefront and had to move to a bigger location within a couple of years.
We have Downtown Bike Hounds, who brought a bicy- cle repair shop back to the downtown core. After doing small bike repairs on site at the Market for the first 2 seasons and becoming known as a go to resource, Sean Burak opened a storefront. They've now grown beyond the one-man operation and have had to relocate from the original James & Canon location to John St. North. (Continued on page 17)
16
(Continued from page 16)
We have Red Hill Coffee that was invited to join the Market a few seasons ago when they were just starting the business. The owners, Jason & Rachel Hofing, run a successful roasterie on the East Mountain, have a regular stall at the Farmers’ Market, and Jason has said he will always find the time to sell coffee at Maker's Market.
Through the use of the courtyard, Makers’ Market has brought people in, shown them trust, given some re- sources, and then sent them out and watched them grow.
As the Cathedral is always looking to place itself in a changing world and city, I believe there's something to be learned from our vendors at Makers’ Market. These businesses, much like the courtyard itself, remind us that small and simple can be great. As Paul Wilson at CBC Hamilton reminds us: “Up at Christ’s Church Cathedral, Nathan Ward, (architect and urban designer of Edinburgh) admires their “pocket park” with foun- tain and benches. Sometimes, he says, small is all you need.”
Matt Thomson Makers’ Market Site Manager
AF & F
I was recently asked by a well-established parishioner what AF&F was all about. “What kind of a meeting is it?” and “What sorts of issues are discussed?” were the questions being asked. It occurred to me that there may be others in our parish who are not familiar with AF&F and hence, this article.
First of all, let’s give credit where credit is due. AF&F is the brainchild of Gail and Tim Huxley who have been devoted organizers, hosts, and participants over the past year or so. The intent is to have regular social get-togethers with the aim of getting to know each other better and by so doing, strengthening our relationships and our parish community. It’s part of our inreach ministry.
So what does AF&F stand for? I think it stands for Anglican Fellowship and Fun… or is it Anglican Food and Fun or maybe it’s Anglican Frolic and Food…it doesn’t really matter, but I think you get the gist.
Here’s how it works: AF&F takes place on the first Monday of every month. On a rotational basis, parishion- ers host AF&F in their homes from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Any parishioner can be a host – we keep a sign-up sheet for hosts in the narthex. There is also a sign-up sheet for those wishing to attend. The host determines how many people can be accommodated and is responsible for providing beverages. Each guest brings an appetiz- er.
What’s the agenda once there? There isn’t an agenda. You mingle, you eat, you drink (not too much), but most of all you enjoy each other’s company. The conversations run from simply finding out more about each other to serious issues of politics, economics, and world issues, or more light-hearted topics such as sports, gardening, sailing, and travelling. No matter what you enjoy talking about, there’s someone there willing to listen and engage in conversation.
If you have yet to attend, consider signing up for the next AF&F and enjoy the company of your fellow parish- ioners! Paula Esteves
17 Return to Table of Contents
Memorial Flowers
One of the ways Cathedral parishioners can recognize the anniversary of a death or give thanksgiving for a special event in their lives is through the gift of flowers for the Sanctuary. The selection of the flowers is usually left up to our florist although special requests can be accommodated. There are generally two arrange- ments in the Sanctuary and there can be additional arrangements in other locations; the chancel steps, the font, the war memorial, the Aids Altar etc. A dedication will be included in the Chronicle to acknowledge the gift. The flower arrangements are then enjoyed throughout the week at all the midweek services.
A suggested donation of $85.00 will provide for two arrangements in the sanctuary. A donation can be made to the flower fund in any amount; less if budgets are tight or more in order to provide a cushion in the fund for special needs.
Many individuals or families can share flowers for the same service (or place additional arrangements) and the dedication in the Chronicle will reflect that fact. A Flower Calendar from the current year is included on the next page, demonstrating the pattern of memorials from 2012 and indicating where there are (have been) open Sundays.
At Christmas and Easter the church is decorated with massed flower displays and there is a special appeal to cover the cost of plants and fresh flowers. Anyone can contribute any amount toward this fund ($30.00 might be a suggested amount if you would like a guideline) and add a dedication to the leaflet at Christmas and/or Easter.
The memorial flowers are coordinated by our Flower Secretary, Donelle deVlaming 289-239-9649 [email protected]. If you have questions regarding memorial flowers or would like to make arrange- ments for flowers, please contact Donelle.
The Altar Guild
Return to Table of Contents 18
January August 1 Laidler 5 Open 8 Gerula 12 Open 15 Open 19 Laidler 22 Ford 26 29 Open September February 2 Open 5 Andrews 9 Open 12 Spears 16 Spence 19 Laidler Tomlinson 26 Lent – no flowers 23 Open March 4-25 Lent – no flowers 30 Ambrose April 1 Palm Sunday October 8 Easter Memorials 7 Open 15 Open 14 Early/Perks 22 Bagnall 21 Open 29 Open 28 Open May November 6 Dougherty/Scouts 4 Watts Tworek-Shinbin 11 Simpson 13 Sprague Tidwell 20 Open 18 Open 27 Stirling 25 Open Johnston December June 2 Watts 3 Open Stopps 17 van Woelderen Huxley 24 Open 9 Open July 16 Harvey/Wall 1 Open 23 Christmas Memorials 8 Open 15 Doolittle 30 Open 22 Open 29 Open
Return to Table of Contents 19
3...2...1...Contact! Miriam DeCock
1. What is your idea of a perfect day?
The perfect day would be slow-paced and longer than 24 hours. It would involve the combination of being with all of my favourite people from different times of my life; time to read a “for fun” book; be- ing by water; and a good cup (or two) of tea.
2. Which talent would you most like to have?
I wish that I had rhythm! And, if I’m allowed to want more than one, I would like to have a photo- graphic memory.
3. Who is your favourite biblical character?
The often forgotten prophet, Huldah—she, very matter-of-factly, speaks on behalf of God at an im- portant point in the narrative of 2 Kings.
4. What do you most value in your friends?
Their honesty, humour, and when they are present.
5. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I sometimes wish I was more outgoing and almost always wish I was more organized/less messy.
6. Where is your favourite place in the Cathedral?
The Narthex because of all that happens there.
7. What is your favourite book or movie?
Book(s) – Harriet the Spy, East of Eden, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard Movies(s) – School of Rock, Little Women, Disney’s Robin Hood
8. What is your one pet peeve?
When people don’t say “excuse me,” but feel justified in getting angry when people don’t move out of their way.
9. What is the one thing that you most look forward to at the Cathedral?
The liturgy: It is familiar and it allows me to be part of something older and bigger than myself.
10. Which living person do you most admire?
My parents—they raised six kids like it was “no big deal.”
Return to Table of Contents 20
Cathedrals in the 21st Century: From Mother Churches to Mission Centers
Peter and I had the privilege of attending the North American Cathedral Deans Conference in Denver, Colora- do in late April. One of the great things about this conference is that it is truly inclusive – Deans and their partner/spouses attend all sessions together so not only is it a time of learning, it is also an opportunity for us to spend some time together. The conference attracts people from across Canada and the United States, as well as further afield.
The pace this year was intense – the schedule was packed with many interesting speakers on topics ranging from architecture, worship, the Orthodox view of cathedrals, neo-monasticism, and stewardship. One of the highlights was hearing Diana Butler Bass speak about her new book Christianity after Religion. We were for- tunate to receive a copy of the book in our conference package and I will write a review of it for Contact as soon as I have finished it.
For me, the presentation by Richard Vosko was particularly engaging. Fr. Vosko is a liturgical design consult- ant with over 100 building projects under his belt. Some of his thoughts: “The time honored ingredients of a worthy place for worship include stories of faith, pilgrimage pathways, transforming thresholds, intimate set- tings for personal prayer, art work that prompts works of justice and seating plans that engage the community in the public rituals.”
Here are some of the questions Fr. Vosko believes we should be asking about our physical space to ensure that contemporary congregations are being good stewards of our buildings:
1. Are they in convenient locations? 2. Are they pilgrims on a journey? 3. Are they welcoming places, places that offer hospitality? 4. Are they inclusive – serve all ages? 5. Do they heal? 6. Do they nourish? 7. Are they buildings that care? Accessible? 8. Are they safe? 9. Environmentally friendly? 10. Do they reach out? 11. Are they globally aware? 12. Are they in the public square? St. John’s Cathedral, Denver 13. Do they illuminate? 14. Are they flexible in meeting contemporary needs? 15. Are they wired? Use advanced technology? 16. Do they support the arts? 17. Are they third places? 18. Do they remember? (Columbarium) 19. How do they shape the worship experience? 20. What do they say about where God is?
Thoughtful questions. How can we answer them at Christ’s Church Cathedral? Peter with retired Deans Don Brown (Sacramento) and James Merritt (Qu’Appelle) Anne Harvey
Return to Table of Contents 21
Financial Update
A summary of our financial position to May 31 is provided below. Our attempts to have a greater number of parishioners declare their intention at the beginning of the year was unsuccessful so it’s difficult to determine what the bottom line might look like at the end of the year. We do know that parishioners’ givings, already behind budget, decline over the summer months – our expenses do not. If you’re going to be away this sum- mer, please consider keeping your monthly gifts up to date. You can do this in 3 ways:
1. Register for pre-authorized givings before leaving. All it takes is completion of a simple sign-up form available by calling the Cathedral office. 2. Leave post-dated cheques to cover your absence. 3. Make a lump sum gift covering the time you will be away before you leave.
Your continued support of the Cathedral and its many ministries are sincerely appreciated.
The Corporation
Budget to Variance May 2012 May 2011 % Variance May 2012 to Budget over 2011
Income
Parishioner Givings $ 112,965 $ 125,244 -$ 12,279 $ 128,296 -11.9% Other $ 10,701 $ 4,281 $ 6,420 $ 8,576 24.8%
Total Income $ 123,666 $ 129,525 -$ 5,859 $ 136,872 -9.6% Expenses
Salaries $ 81,493 $ 91,483 -$ 9,990 $ 82,142 -0.8%
Property $ 38,729 $ 38,663 $ 66 $ 38,405 0.8%
Administration $ 17,675 $ 21,094 -$ 3,420 $ 14,955 18.2%
Total Expense $ 137,897 $ 151,241 -$ 13,344 $ 135,501 1.8% Net Income -$ 14,230 -$ 21,715 $ 7,485 $ 1,371 -1137.9%
Return to Table of Contents 22
CONTACTS
Dean of Niagara and Rector of the Cathedral The Very Rev. Peter A. Wall 905-527-1316 Ext. 210 [email protected]
Associate Priest The Rev. Sue Channen 905-527-1316 Ext 250 [email protected]
Parish Administrator Alison Meredith 905-527-1316 Ext. 240 [email protected]
Sunday School Coordinator Karen Methot 905-387-3902
Envelope Secretary Janet Stirling 905-527-1316