Musical Feasts New Faces
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THE DISSENTING VOTE MUSICAL FEASTS NEW FACES IN THIS ISSUE 6 MUSICAL FEASTS A roadmap for the journey 8 PAINTING THE STARS PETER’S Suggestions from participants PERSPECTIVE 9 ANGLICAN FOUNDATION Something to think about p. 4 10 THE COLDEST NIGHT Raising money for St.. Matthew’s House 11 BOOK REVIEW When “spiritual but not religious” is not enough 12 PROPERTY MANAGER THE A familiar face DISSENTING VOTE 15 VESTRY SUNDAY SERMON Looking back, looking forward p. 13 18 3...2...1...CONTACT Diane & Peter Dent 21 SUNDAY SCHOOL Who are those two? AROUND 22 FINANCIAL UPDATE THE BAY 24 MY REASONS FOR WRITING Looking for God? p. 25 26 A WORD FROM OUR ARCHIVIST Dean Abbott FROM THE EDITOR HAPPY EASTER Making connections by Anne Harvey In looking over last year’s Easter issue of Con- Now don’t get me wrong; I’m as bad as the next tact, I realized that it’s one year since we person. I check my email, use text all the time launched our website. All organizations need a on my phone, and watch movies on my comput- web presence and in fact, without Twitter and er. I would like to think, though, that we could Facebook as well, we’re lagging behind. It all stop and smell the roses from time to time; seems second nature to many of us now to have a real conversation with someone, read a “Google” any information we might want and book, or write a letter (while there still is snail we expect to be able to access information in- mail). Moderation in all things. stantly 24/7. My kids think we’re crazy to still keep a phone book in the house. It’s an antique Here’s your chance to engage with your fellow door stop or booster seat—you’d never use it to parishioners (even if you are doing it electroni- actually look up a phone number. That’s what cally). This issue of Contact introduces some canada411.com is for! new faces, Olivia & Ian Brown, a familiar face in a different role, Derek Smith, and some faces In the same way, we use our cell phones to com- of “long standing” around the Cathedral, the municate without really having to Dents, in a more in-depth look. As well, we get “communicate”. It’s actually too much trouble to hear from a face we no longer see, Richard now to dial a phone number and have a phone Berryman, in a reprint of one of his Hamilton conversation. There’s all that “how are you” Spectator pieces. And of course, it’s Eastertide, and “fine thanks, how are you” stuff to get over so we can read about what we can look forward with before you can get down to brass tacks. to musically and The Dean’s thoughts on the Better to just send a text—“Get milk”—and get season. We celebrate some accomplishments on with our busy lives. and are challenged by John Bradley to reflect and pray about our financial engagement with How did we get here? It always seems like a the Cathedral. good idea—convenience, efficiency, ease of use but somehow we have just created a layer of dis- Take time over the wonderful liturgies of Holy tance and insulation between each other. We Week, Easter and beyond to make a connection can’t escape work obligations, we can’t escape with your fellow travelers at Christ’s Church social obligations, and we can’t truly make a Cathedral—don’t be texting your Alleluias! human connection. We’re wedded to our tech- nology. Happy Easter to you all from Paula & me! Return to Table of Contents 3 PETER’S PERSPECTIVE GOOD FRIDAY The stillness and signs of light by Peter Wall † One of my favorite times in the Cathedral is that stillness; for the distinctive silence of that very early on Good Friday morning – the time morning to enfold me, to comfort me, to disturb after the darkness of the Maundy Thursday me. That stillness continues, for me, right up overnight Vigil has past, but before folks begin until the moment when we bring the sacrament to arrive for Good Friday service. For many, upstairs from the Altar of Repose – a little bit of many years I have seemed to spend the early light, a white covering for the altar, a gleaming hours of Good Friday morning in a church – silver chalice, a slight swatch of purple in the many years ago it was to warm up my voice and Priest’s stole – all of these bring life into the dry to practice for things like The Reproaches or bones which have surrounded me. And I feel The Passion. For the last 25 years or so it has Easter coming on! been to get ready for what, for me, has always been one of the most important of moments – The annual rhythm of these rites and acts is an the Solemn Liturgy for Good Friday. (It still annual rehearsal, for me, of life. Life which, at involves warming up my voice and thinking times, is desolate and lonely; life which at times about singing – there really is nothing new un- seems enveloped in despair; life which at times der the sun!) seems only describable by words which leave us wondering why and seeking comfort. But the It is the stillness that always moves me—even same rehearsal – that moment of the presence of though all we have really taken out of the Christ in the consecrated sacrament from Maun- church on Maundy Thursday night is ‘things’ dy Thursday night and its achingly beautiful sto- and the place really is no more silent than it of- ry of that last night’s supper presages and pre- ten is when I am first there, which happens reg- pares me for the great rehearsal to come – Holy ularly, weekdays and weekends, but there is a Saturday morning when we gather to decorate, holy longing and deep serenity in that ‘empty’ to adorn, to beautify once again; Saturday even- stillness. I know, intellectually (and theologi- ing when we dance in the new light and shout cally) that Jesus has not left me, or us; I know ourselves hoarse with our Alleluias; Easter Day that God is still reigning in God’s world on when we ring and sing and exult in this new day Good Friday morning, just as on every other which dawns around us and all of the world. morning. And yet, in the midst of all that, there is this significant – and I know only symbolic, None of this means that all the dark things will really – but still palpable sense of nothing, of not continue to happen; none of them will keep plainness, or desolation, of loneliness. me from the sadness and sorrows which each week - sometimes each day - will bring to me It is important for me to recognize and realize (Continued on page 5) 4 Return to Table of Contents (Continued from page 4) and to those I love and serve. But, because of those rehearsals of light and sound; of bell, book, and bath; of joyful Alleluias, none will be without hope and confidence and peace and ex- ultant, constant resurrection. But without that quite wonderful and moving emptiness of Good Friday morning; without that stillness which brings with it such profound prayer and longing, it somehow would not be the same. Easter Services As you and I, as a community of those enliv- ened and blessed by belief, by faith, by question, and by grace keep those wonderful acts this year; as we rehearse, as part of our annual walk Passion Sunday, April 13 to Easter, all of those Glorias and Hosannas, 8:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Liturgy of the Palms & may that stillness, so deep and so important, rest Holy Eucharist in and among us all. Monday, April 14 & Wednesday, April 16 The happiest of Easters – of Holy Weeks – of Holy Eucharist paschal joy - be with you all. 7:30 a.m. & 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 15 7:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist 12:15 p.m. Bishop’s Eucharist Passages Maundy Thursday, April 17 6:00 p.m. Pot Luck Supper Deaths 7:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist & Foot Washing Harcourt Bull December 19, 2013 Vigil (in the Columbarium) from end of 7:30 Helen Rice January 8, 2014 service to 11:00 am Friday Bev Johnston January 9, 2014 12:00 a.m. The Way of the Cross Richard Berryman January 27, 2014 John Bothwell January 28, 2014 Good Friday, April 18 Joyce Mitchell February 3, 2014 11:00 a.m. Solemn Liturgy Ann Macdonald February 13, 2014 Roy Pennington March 14, 2014 Holy Saturday, April 19 Phyllis Veary March 30, 2014 9:00 p.m. The Great Vigil of Easter Followed by Resurrection Party Marriage Easter Day, April 20 10:30 a.m. Procession & Festival Eucharist Amy Elizabeth Stirling & Derek Alan Meharg - February 21, 2014 Return to Table of Contents 5 THE MUSICAL DRAMA OF HOLY WEEK MUSICAL FEASTS A roadmap for the journey by Michael Bloss Holy Week music traces the path of Jesus from Of course there are the “standards” – the choral the triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm works and hymns which define any Holy Week Sunday through to the glorious shouts of the – as well as newer compositions for choir and Resurrection on Easter Sunday. The liturgical for congregational singing which add even fur- drama journeying as it does between those two ther pathos.