Ex Cathedra CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL OTTAWA WINTER 2019 THE CHURCHMICE CHECK IN FOR CHRISTMAS he mood in the Good He gently asked them if every- Bishopmouse rose to her full Shepherd Chapel was thing was okay. Bishopmouse height and declared “This is a very bleak when the looked at him with a solemn catastrophic situation! We are TDean met with the Cathedral expression and said, “We have not amused! Something has to churchmice on the long night of heard that our new Vicar, be done about this band of the Winter Solstice. He had Canon Doug, has two cats in vicious cats! They are pure been hoping for a light-hearted his household… And that one evil!!” chat as they shared their of the cats is Maggie, a mouse- The Dean was taken aback. thoughts for Ex Cathedra. terrorizing tuxedo, and the Even though he was all too other is Cassie, a mouse- In previous years, there had familiar with how gossip and murdering calico!” been much unpleasantness rumour can distort information among the churchmice concern- Lecternmouse chimed in, say- and upset members of the Ca- ing the order of their story- ing, in an accusatory way, thedral community, the telling, so the Dean was pre- “And we heard that both of churchmice had always seemed pared with an “elders first” ap- YOUR granddaughters have to be above the fray. What proach (something he had cats, and that they are bringing had happened to fill them with picked up from our Algonquin a black marauder named Jarvis such fear and indignation? friends). But there was no un- and a grey monster called Jas- seemly jockeying for position per with them at Christmas!” when he approached the Pulpitmouse joined in, saying, churchmice, who were speaking “Canon Hilary has that lovely in hushed tones under the glow dog Pepper, but she, too, has of the presence lamp. What a cat called Max—as in maxi- was wrong? mum damage to mice!!” continued on page 12 CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL OTTAWA Page 2 RISE TO DANCE IN THANKSGIVING By Albert Dumont a prayer O Great Spirit Into a gentle breeze I softly sing And I rise to dance in thanksgiving That You have created human beings I promise to continue each dawn To heap praise on the goodness You have placed before the Peoples To teach us, to feed us To nurture and sustain us The great trees growing Out of a narrow blanket of earth Covering the rocky hillside The small bird flying against ferocious winds The sparkles of playful fish Dear Friends, Under dark, ice-covered waters At this spiritual time, as Mother Earth sleeps, The sun, the wind and waters we ponder the beginnings of our faith beliefs. Which grant us joyful lives We rise as one, to acknowledge the right all For them human beings have to embrace and love, spir- I rise to dance in thanksgiving itual teachings they feel are filled with Crea- For I am aware tor’s blessings. That if not for them, the drumming Of human hearts would forever fall silent My spiritual guides, those who arrived here with the first moon of winter, speak to me. Through them, we request a joyful and acci- dent-free winter for all our family members, friends and also, for all the good people who make up the citizenry within the perimeters of the Algonquin Homeland. May Creator bless you all, Albert Dumont Page 3 EX CATHEDRA By Canon Doug Richards hese are the first feels at that point in the words of the special. He has been trying opening song heard to get everyone following Twhen ‘A Charlie Brown his stage direction, but they Christmas’ begins. For me, it all want to do their own is not Christmas until I watch thing. Lucy wants to be the the special. I can’t remember Christmas Princess; Snoopy is a Christmas that I have not standing behind Charlie watched it at least once. It is Brown making fun of him; one tradition that has been a the other children really do part of my life, for as long as not want to follow any I can remember. direction at all, they just I remember gathering around want to dance and have fun. Out of exasperation, Charlie the old black and white then walks out onto the stage television as child, with a cup Brown exclaims his frustration: He knows that and, with one spotlight on of hot chocolate and a him, he tells a story. This couple of my Mom’s there is something more to Christmas, but he is just not story is a very simple story, homemade cookies to watch sure what that ‘more’ is. but one that has changed the the show. Each of us kids world. had a favourite part of the Great memories! show. My sister, Cindy, When Charles M. Schulz first I have come to realize that really liked the scenes where wrote the script, he the personal reason I need to the children were dancing. narratively demonstrated watch “A Charlie Brown My brother, Bryan, thought how the message of the birth Christmas” is to remind myself of the message of the angels that Charlie Brown and Linus of the Christ Child can be hunting for the ‘perfect’ overshadowed by the cares to the shepherds in the fields. Christmas tree was the best. and concerns of the world “Fear not: for behold, I bring For me, it was when Charlie around us. you good tidings of great joy, Brown shouted out at the When Charlie Brown which shall be for all people. top of his lungs, “Isn’t there exclaims, “Isn’t there anyone For unto you is born this day anyone who knows what who knows what Christmas in the city of David a Saviour, Christmas is all about?” is all about?” Linus tells him which is Christ the Lord.” I liked this part because of that he can tell him what A simple message of hope, the way that Charlie Brown Christmas is all about. Linus peace and love that shines See Vicar on page 11 CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL OTTAWA Page 4 By Canon Hilary Murray his has been a rather busy fall with the change in my posi- Ttion here at the Cathedral and my being appointed as the half time chaplain at Cornerstone Housing for Women 10 weeks ago. Cornerstone is made up of five residences—Booth Street, the Shelter, McPhail House, McLaren House and the newest Princeton House. The kitchen at Princeton House was built with funds raised by the Cathedral com- munity. All together, Cornerstone houses just over 170 women. As chaplain I provide spiritu- sider how their work might Sadly, one common denomi- al direction and pastoral care be expanded in the future. nator for many, beyond not only the residents but sharing issues related to also the staff at Cornerstone. Working at Cornerstone is homelessness, is having ex- My work also includes over- very different from the work perienced trauma from seeing a small spiritual care I have done as a parish priest childhood into adulthood. team of four lay people. or at the Cathedral. The Yet despite the difficult life Those volunteers assist with women come from a variety situations the women have the monthly Eucharist ser- of social and cultural back- come out of or are still deal- vices at Booth street and grounds and life experiences. ing with, I have found a Princeton House, as well as I’ve met women who grew genuine welcome to their co-lead weekly midday pray- up in the Caribbean, Central community and are willing- er services at Booth Street and South America and Eu- ness open to share the sto- and evening prayer services rope, and many who come at the Shelter. We will con- from Canada’s Indige- nous peoples. See Canon Pastor on page 11 Page 5 EX CATHEDRA A DETERMINED PATH TO SERVICE—MEET THE NEW VICAR By J.B. Coutts new job is always a big when he was a child, following His mother also helped him change, but for the Rev. his father’s job. Finally, faced understand himself when she Canon Douglas Richards, with another transfer, his par- asked him “Is God calling you Awho started as our Vicar on ents decided to move back to —or are all the old ladies in December 1, that was quite literally their home town of Smiths Falls, the church saying you should true. where Doug went to high be a priest?” Doug—despite school and to church at St. John “Most of the churches I have some hankering to be an air- the Evangelist. At one point he worked in, the average Sunday at- line pilot—decided he was and his sister, his father and his tendance is 25 to 30 people—I pretty sure it was God. grandfather were all singing in could stand at the chancel steps The young would-be priest the choir at the same time. and look into the faces of all the went to Lakehead University people in the church. I won’t be in Thunder Bay to study phi- able to do that here,” Doug said in losophy, finishing up his an interview. bachelor degree at Carleton. Everything about the Cathedral’s A spell of bartending in To- size strikes him. The space itself, ronto only reinforced his con- how much goes on every day, the viction he should be a priest number of services a week, and all (the two professions, he says, the people involved, staff and lai- had a great deal in common).