E-Connections – August 25, 2021

Surprised by the Spirit

Over the course of six weeks this summer a group of parishioners met to discuss and reflect on our time as a Church in the pandemic and where we might go from here.  We gathered in response to an invitation from our Archbishop and Primate Linda Nicholls to join with other Anglicans across the country in a guided conversation. Here is how the Primate described it:

This has been a time of extraordinary upheaval in our lives and the life of our churches. It has also been a time of discovery. We discovered the pain of many losses—personal and communal. We discovered that we are more resilient and more creative than we may have previously thought. We discovered God in our midst—and we have been Surprised by the Spirit.

What surprises do we need to grieve? What surprises do we need to celebrate? I invite you to gather… to explore your discoveries and surprises, and to listen for the voice of the Spirit in your midst showing the path ahead.

What follows is a summary of our reflection about the signs of the Holy Spirit in our midst. There is good news to share!

Through all the disruptions of the past 18 months, many of us grew in confidence that God’s Spirit is at work among us. Many in our group expressed that they experienced a deepening relationship with God and love for God, and closer relationships with others in the Cathedral community through online platforms. Small group studies, worship, hymn-singing and coffee hour are good examples of this. We have also been encouraged by the ongoing outreach ministries at St. James. For many there is a new confidence and boldness in acknowledging that change is necessary and can be healthy, as we are led by the Holy Spirit. As we look ahead to the still uncertain future, we trust that God is continually at work, in and among us, leading us and bringing new life.

And so we pray in faith that the God of hope would fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that we may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13

For more information, contact Canon Beth at bbenson@stjamescathedral.ca and
Reverend Claire at clatimerdennis@stjamescathedral.ca.

 

Sunday Morning Service Schedule Changes on September 12, 2021

Beginning Sunday, September 12, our Sunday morning services will take place at 8:00am, 9:00am & 11:00am. Registration to attend services is required. The 11:00am service will continue to be live-streamed each week on the Diocesan YouTube channel

 

Celebration of New Ministry Service for our New Sub-Dean & Vicar,
The Reverend Canon Dr. Stephen Fields 

Please join us in a Celebration of New Ministry Service for our new Sub-Dean & Vicar, The Reverend Canon Dr. Stephen Fields, on September 12 at 11:00am, which will be Canon Stephen’s first Sunday with us! Bishop Andrew Asbil will preside and preach. Registration to attend is required and will open on Tuesday, September 7. The service will also be live-streamed on the Diocesan YouTube channel.

We look forward to welcoming Canon Stephen to St. James!

We ask that you remember him, his family and the people of Holy Trinity, Thornhill, in your prayers during this time of transition.

 

CONNECTING WITH ST. JAMES

WORSHIP WITH US

SUNDAYS

Join us for in-person services at 8:00am and 10:00am.
Registration is required and is available on our website here.
The 10:00am service will continue to be live-streamed on the Diocesan YouTube channel.

SUNDAY COFFEE HOUR

Both in-person and virtual Coffee Hours are suspended for the time being, but please say hello on the West Lawn as you leave!

WEDNESDAYS

Mid-Week Eucharist: Wednesdays at 9:30am in Snell Hall. No need to pre-register, but we’ll have a sign-in sheet when you arrive.

CONTINUING EACH WEEK

• Sermon Discussion Group on Zoom with The Reverend Dr. David Danner, one of our Honorary Assistants: Mondays at 10:00am; email the office to receive the link
• Morning Prayer: Tuesday and Thursday mornings on the Cathedral Facebook page; you can also find them posted on the Cathedral’s YouTube channel
• Virtual Hymn Sing on Zoom: Email irenecourage105@gmail.com to receive information, dates, and the link; the next sessions take place on Wednesday, August 25 at 4:00pm and Tuesday, August 31 at 7:30pm.

 

Silencing of the Bells

On Wednesdays, the bells will remain silent all day to remember the children who were silenced or harmed by the residential school system. We are also providing a list of resources that provide opportunities to pray, learn and act. You can find that on our website at  https://stjamescathedral.ca/truthandreconciliation/. Opportunities that arise will also be shared on our Facebook page. We hope that you can set aside some time each Wednesday to use the resources we provide to learn more about truth and reconciliation, and to pray for all impacted by harms of the past.

 

CLERGY HOLIDAYS

Dean Stephen Vail is on holiday, returning September 3.

During his absence, The Reverend Canon Beth Benson will be looking after pastoral concerns. You can reach her at bbenson@stjamescathedral.ca.

Canon Beth will be away in September.

If you know anyone who would benefit from a call from our pastoral care team, please be in touch.

 

ORGAN RECITALS

St. James Cathedral has presented lunchtime organ recitals on Tuesdays for many years. We are delighted that these concerts have resumed virtually and will take place on various Tuesdays of each month at 1:00pm. The concerts will be presented via the Cathedral Choir Facebook page, allowing everyone to have an excellent view of the instrument and performer.

The organ is a fine four manual instrument dating from 1863, composed of four manuals and 5,100 pipes. Further details are available on the Cathedral website.

Did you miss an Organ Recital? You can still access it on the Cathedral Choir’s Facebook page.

Organ Recital Schedule

Tuesdays at 1:00pm via the Cathedral Choir Facebook page

September 14: Gordon Mansell (Music Director and Organist at Our Lady of Sorrows Church)

September 28: Matthew Larkin (Founding Artistic Director, Caelis Academy Ensemble; St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Ottawa)

October 19: Sebastian Moreno (Organist, St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church)

November 2: Robert Pecksmith (St James Cathedral’s new Wayne Vance Organ Scholar – See notice below for more info!)

Organ Scholar

We are delighted to welcome Robert Pecksmith and his wife Hattie to St. James Cathedral in September! Robert will assume the Wayne Vance Organ Scholarship, and Hattie – a fine soprano – will sing as part of our choir and team of cantors. They are both familiar to cathedral life and worship: Robert was assistant organist at Wakefield Cathedral and Hattie sang for many years at Wells Cathedral, where they were both married last year. In equal measure a talented and charming couple!

Visit Robert’s website here: http://www.robertpecksmith.co.uk/

 

From the Refugee Committee

Parishioners will be aware of recent developments in Afghanistan. The Government of Canada has announced that 20,000 refugee resettlement places will be made available to Afghan refugees. Of these, a large number will be set aside for government sponsored refugees and there will be a separate allocation for private sponsorship. The Refugee Committee plans to sponsor at least one family. For the moment, however, we await information from the government about arrangements that will be put in place. We will keep the parish informed of developments. We ask for your thoughts and prayers for all of those affected by these events. – David Crawford, Chair

 

PWRDF: Responding to Haiti Earthquake and Monitoring Afghanistan Situation 

Haiti
The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) has announced an initial grant of $25,000 to the ACT Alliance to respond to the enormous impacts of the earthquake in Haiti. To donate online to the Haiti relief effort, please go to pwrdf.org/give-today and click on Emergency Response, or click here, then add “Haiti earthquake” to the notes section. You may also call 416-822-9083, leave a voicemail toll free at 1-866-308-7973, or send a cheque with a memo “Haiti Earthquake” to 80 Hayden St. Toronto, Ontario, M4Y 3G2.

Afghanistan
The situation in Afghanistan is extremely complex. ACT members in Afghanistan and neighbouring countries are monitoring the situation on the ground and are planning to assist about 50,000 displaced families in Afghanistan and neighbouring countries. The priority for support would be food, shelter, blankets, tents and health care. ACT members are in process of exploring safe pathways for a smooth continuation of programs, while safeguarding humanitarian principles of caring for those most vulnerable.

We ask for your prayers for the people of Haiti and Afghanistan. For more information, please visit the PWRDF website here.

 

From the Health Council

For your information, the following selected Health Promotion events will take place in August and September:

August

• International Overdose Awareness Day – August 31, 2021.

September

• Arthritis Awareness Month
• Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
• Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
• Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
• World Alzheimer’s Month
• World Suicide Prevention Day – September 10, 2021

Grief Support Inquiry

The weight of grief, the isolation of loss, remembering, forgetting, living in an altered reality…

This notice is to determine a sense from the congregation at St. James as to whether a series of small groups for men and women coping with loss and grief would feel helpful in either the near future or sometime later in the year.

The group sessions would be held as virtual or in-person meetings in accordance with applicable pandemic restrictions and would be facilitated by a trained Group Therapist under the auspices of St. James’ clergy.

It would be open to all, regardless of church affiliation, and all discussions would be kept confidential.

Please email your interest to info@stjamescathedral.ca or leave a message on the clergy line at 416-364-7865, ext. *232.

 

Financial Stewardship

Second Quarter Financial Update

Please click here to view the Second Quarter Financial Update:
January 1 to June 30, 2021.

 

 

It is only through your generosity and faithful stewardship that St. James can continue to meet its financial challenges ahead. Thank you to those who have continued to send monthly donations. If you have yet to do so, please consider sending donations by cheque to 65 Church Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 2E9 or by using the ‘Donate’ button on our website. We have implemented a cyber-security program to maintain the security of your personal and financial data.

We also encourage you to sign up for Pre-Authorized Monthly Giving, thus ensuring a vital stream of income for the Cathedral. Please note that at any time you can stop or change the PAG amount by emailing the office.

 

Staying Connected

We invite you to continue to link to the Cathedral’s website or Facebook page for updates, Morning Prayer, service listings and inspirational messages. Thank you for your love and support during this period in the life of St. James. Please remember, you are not alone.

Blessings and peace to you all,
The Very Reverend Stephen Vail, Rector of St. James Cathedral & Dean of Toronto
Joan Peters & Jayne Hobbs, Wardens
svail@stjamescathedral.ca
wardens@stjamescathedral.ca