E-Connections – November 24, 2021

BEHIND THE VICAR’S NEW WORDS FOR AN ALTERNATIVE BLESSING

In the rites of Anglican liturgy, words and actions, gestures and postures, carry much weight. I recalled being drilled, as a server in training, in getting my genuflection right, getting the deep bow really deep. These were important, not only to my priest but the people in the pew who knew what was to be done, and how things were to be done, at and around the altar.

Just as we inherited these well choreographed postures, we have also inherited words. Like the postures, these words have not only enriched the rhythm of worship, they also enable us to plumb the depths of our spirituality.

These inherited traditions did not appear on a cloud, they are the repeated actions that were created at some point along the continuum of our liturgical and theological development.

The value of these words, gestures, and actions in our liturgical life is that they speak to us in ways that resonate with our reality and experience.

Liturgy is the not only the work of the people, it is the work of the people as they give expression to their faith and their understanding of God in ways that energize them and enable others to thrive and flourish.

Liturgy is built on theology. Theology is the way we make sense of God and God’s liberating work for all creation from our socio-cultural-political perspective and how God chooses to reveal Godself to us. Like faith, it is not confined to, nor should it be limited to, specific formularies, be they ancient or modern, or fashioned in the north or south. It is informed by context, culture, commitment, and continuity.

It is to the Scriptures we turn to connect our story to the Life Story of the Incarnate Lord, the Living Story that liberates and Life-giving Story that transforms.

As part of ongoing liturgical development, we note, for example, the repeated calls for more inclusive language or gender-neutral language. Such calls fall within the four corners of context, culture, commitment, and continuity.

It is in this context and in my ongoing reflection on our liturgy, I have written hundreds of prayers and a Eucharistic Prayer, with the intention of bringing ancient words in the Scriptures and tradition to life in our context.

Early this year, as I reflected on pandemic experience, I have reworked the words of the traditional blessing at the end of the Eucharist with the same intention.

The words of the blessing are as follows. “The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in God’s Son, the Risen Christ, and the blessing of God who loves us, the One who Liberates us, and the One who leads us into all truth be with you this day and always”.

There is no “modalism” in this formulary, it describes the way God was and continues to be experienced by the people of the Old Covenant and those of the New Covenant from the Pentecost experience to this moment.

God Loves (John 3:16, 1 John 4:16)
God Liberates (Luke 4:18-19)
God Leads (John 16:13)

“Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”, the way we describe the Triune God (Godhead), form the heart of the traditional blessing. The reworked blessing sends us on our way with words that describe the nature and attributes of God which the Early Church preserved for us in scripture.

There is no better place for such liturgical innovation to happen than in the cathedral. Such is the ministry of our cathedrals, the church where the seat of the bishop is found. By its place in the diocese, and in the heart of the city, it ministers to a diverse community. Through their liturgies and other forms of ministry, cathedrals celebrate the rich heritage of our church and ensure that the traditions that have been the source of spiritual nurture are maintained. At the same time, they make and keep space for creativity and diversity of expression, the fruit of which can, if effective and life-giving, become traditions in themselves.

The nature of the office of the bishop makes room for this creativity and diversity of expression. The office holds the rich treasure of ministry and gifts in a healthy tension and gives new expression to the term “unity” which Cyprian of Carthage saw as the crucial role of the episcopate.

The ministry of the cathedral ought not to be seen as maintaining a static monument of the past but rather as the main engine for dynamic missional engagement in God’s world. It must always be the flagship for diocesan witness, advocacy, and service for the sake of the Gospel.

The Reverend Canon Dr. Stephen Fields|
Sub-Dean & Vicar

 

Stewardship 2021 

The initial response to our Fall Appeal letter has been very encouraging. We offer a sincere Thank You to all those who have replied so generously.

The financial situation at St. James Cathedral is challenging, to say the least. We need your support – either by increasing your annual giving or making a special year-end gift – if we are to have any chance of balancing this year’s budget, as we had hoped to do.

You may have heard of Giving Tuesday, which this year falls on November 30. From a simple encouragement to do good, in the last ten years it has become a global movement encouraging charity and acts of kindness. This year on Giving Tuesday we ask you to remember St. James Cathedral and its work. If you haven’t responded already to our Fall Appeal, please consider it seriously and give as generously as you can. Thank you.

You can help by making a gift either on-line at www.stjamescathedral.ca or by mailing a cheque to St. James Cathedral, 65 Church Street, Toronto, ON M5C 2E9.

 

Volunteer with the Altar/Flower Guild

Are you looking for ways to connect and contribute to the upkeep of the Cathedral and St. James the Less without a major time commitment? Then the Altar Guild might be for you.

The Altar Guild is seeking volunteers to help set the Lord’s Table for worship.

• Training – “On the job.”
• Time commitment – One Friday or Saturday a month for about one hour.
• Membership – open to all members of the Cathedral (Men, Women, Boys, Girls, Families).
• Training: No special training is required. New members work with experienced ones until they are comfortable.

Who We Are:

• We are members who are committed to the care of vessels and linens used in worship.
• We work behind the scenes — the kind of work that goes unnoticed because it’s making everything run so smoothly.

What We Do:

• Prepare the church and the altars for regular Sunday and other services, including special occasions.
• Wash and polish all items associated with the Eucharist, as well as the brass vases used for flowers.
• Take care of linens that are used on the Altar and during the communion administration.
• Take care of memorial flowers that celebrate the lives of past parishioners or moments of current parishioners and supervise the decoration of the sanctuary flowers.
• Three times a year we and other members of the Cathedral come together to decorate the church for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and on Friday before Palm Sunday we make 1000 Palm Crosses.

What you Get:

• A very personal and amazingly fulfilling experience.
• The satisfaction of knowing that you are playing an integral part in the most important life of the community, worship.

For more information, please feel free to request a copy of our Altar Guild Manual.

If this is something that you would like to be part of, please contact the Vicar Stephen Fields at sfields@stjamescathedral.ca  or call the Church Office: 416-364-7865, ext. *235.

 

Advent Reflections 

During the season of Advent, the Vicar will lead the Cathedral community during the 9:00am and 11:00am celebrations as he reflects on the four Advent themes, Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. This is a wonderful way to get ready to celebrate the miracle of the Incarnation when the blessings of hope, peace, joy and love came to us in the child of Bethlehem.

 

Christmas Memorial Flowers

A beautiful way to remember a loved one at Christmas is through the memorial poinsettias that will be placed in the Cathedral for the season. Names can be emailed to info@stjamescathedral.ca or called in to the clergy extension at 416-364-7865, ext. *232. We are asking for donations of $40 (minimum) per name or per couple. Donations will be designated to the Cathedral Flower Fund and are tax-receiptable. Please indicate whether you will be making your payment by credit card online or by cheque in the offering box/by mail. The deadline for submitting memorial names will be Tuesday, December 7.

 

UPCOMING AT THE CATHEDRAL

Diocesan Synod: Opening Eucharist – November 25 at 6:45pm

The 2021 session of Synod begins with an opening Eucharist from St. James Cathedral. You can watch the live-stream of the service on the Diocesan YouTube channel. If you would like to attend in-person, a limited number of seats are available. Registration to attend is required on the Diocesan website here. Worship alongside fellow Anglicans, hear the Bishop’s Charge to Synod and enjoy musical contributions from across the Diocese. After the Eucharist, stay tuned for a FaithWorks 25th anniversary celebration.

Advent Wreath Making – Sunday, November 28 at 3:30pm

Prepare for Advent by making yourself and your family an Advent Wreath! We’ll have supplies for you to decorate a wreath form with fresh greens and fill it with candles. There’s a suggested donation of $15. For details email Claire at clatimerdennis@stjamescathedral.ca

From Darkness to Light: An Advent Sequence of Lessons and Carols
Sunday, November 28 at 4:30pm

Join us for this special Advent service as we prepare together for Christ’s birth. The readings, carols and hymns lead us from darkness to light, as the events told by the prophets unfold. The service starts quietly, in the darkness of creation, but ends in a blaze of light as the Archangel Gabriel visits Mary, and prologue in John’s gospel echoes the opening words of the Book of Genesis when he announces the light of the Incarnate Word. This service will be both live-streamed and in-person.

Live-stream on the Diocesan YouTube channel.
Register to attend in-person here.
The service will be preceded by an Organ Recital at 4:00pm.

 

Anti-Black Racism: Shared Stories, Shared Pain, Shared Hope
Panel Discussion: Wednesday December 1 from 7:00-8:30pm via Zoom

When forming our Social Justice and Advocacy Motion for 2021, many of you indicated a desire to hear the stories and experiences of those who have faced racism in the Church and elsewhere.  Therefore, we are delighted to welcome a panel of persons, all educators, who are willing to share their stories, as well as their pain and hope as they work for a better and more equal Church and society where racism is disrupted and dismantled.  Please join us for this important panel discussion as we welcome Marilyn Sinclair, Jacqui Steer, and Raphael Francis. The event will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, December 1 from 7:00-8:30pm.  To attend, please send a registration request to info@stjamescathedral.ca by December 1 at 12noon. Together we can counter the sin of racism.

Advent Through the Arts – Young Adult Advent Series – begins December 5 

During Advent, we’ll be hosting a series of conversations for young adults in the parish, looking at Advent themes in poetry, photography, music, and iconography. We’ll meet on Sundays at 12:30pm in Snell Hall, beginning December 5. For details email Claire at clatimerdennis@stjamescathedral.ca.

“Blue Christmas” – Tuesday, December 14 at 6:00pm 

Our “Blue Christmas” celebration (Service of Remembrance and Hope) will be held on Tuesday, December 14 at 6:00pm in the Cathedral. In the shadow of the Advent Candles, we will trim our Christmas tree by hanging doves in memory of our loved ones who will be missing from our tables at this joyous time. Registration to attend the service will open on our website on December 1.

Book Group – Next meeting: Wednesday, December 15 at 7:00pm

Join the Cathedral Book Club in reading Laurus by Eugene Vodolazkin. A novel set in Medieval Russia, it follows a Holy Fool in his life’s adventures. It’s a strange, beautiful, and funny book! We’ll gather over Zoom on December 15 at 7:00pm. Email clatimerdennis@stjamescathedral.ca if you’re interested in joining the discussion.

La Nativité du Seigneur –  Friday, December 17 at 7:30pm

La Nativité du Seigneur by Olivier Messiaen will be presented by Organist Rashaan Allwood. More details to come!

 

CONNECTING WITH ST. JAMES

Weekday Services at the Cathedral

Morning Prayer
Monday to Friday: 8am in person also live-streamed on our YouTube channel)
Morning Prayer will also be posted online only on our YouTube channel on Saturday at 8:00am.

Holy Eucharist
Monday & Friday: 12:15pm
Tues & Thurs: 8:30am
Wed: 9:30am (Snell Hall) & 12:15pm

All services take place in the Cathedral’s Lady Chapel except as noted.
No need to pre-register, but we’ll have a sign-in sheet when you arrive. 

 

WORSHIP WITH US

SUNDAYS
Join us for in-person services at 8:00am, 9:00am and 11:00am.
Registration is required and is available on our website here.
You do not need to register for the 8:00am service; instead, there will be a sign-in sheet when you arrive.
The 11:00am 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!

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

 

Thread of Hope – A PWRDF Advent Resource

Daily scripture readings, prayers, meditations and stories of hope – emailed to you for your Advent journey. To sign up and for more Advent resources, visit the PWRDF website at  https://pwrdf.org/advent2021.

PWRDF – Christmas Cards 2021

Our Canadian Anglican Church Agency for sustainable development and relief, The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF), continues to support national and international communities needing help as it has all through the pandemic. Working with trusted partner agencies on the ground around the world, it is involved with bringing humanitarian relief to disaster areas as well as long term commitments to empowering women, food security, preventative health, supporting refugees and Indigenous programs. Please continue to support the work of PWRDF with your donations, and purchases from the new 2021 World of Gifts Catalogue and Christmas Cards. Details at the website pwrdf.org, email pwrdf@pwrdf.org or phone 416 924 9192.

 

Financial Stewardship

We are exceedingly grateful to those of you who continue to support us financially. If you would like to make a donation, here are the ways to do that:

• Mail a cheque to 65 Church Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 2E9.
• Use the ‘Donate’ button on our website.
• You can now hand-deliver your offerings to the Cathedral Centre: A secure mailbox has been mounted in the Church Street vestibule at the entrance of the doors at 65 Church Street. The doors are open from 9:00am – 4:00pm, Monday – Friday.
• 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.
• Make a gift of securities (see details here).
• We are delighted to have a QR code for donating electronically which you will find in all bulletins. Simply scan with your phone camera and donate! You can also donate here.

Staying Connected

We invite you to continue to link to the Cathedral’s website or Facebook page for updates, links to services, and opportunities for fellowship and learning. St. James relies on your faithfulness and generosity, for which we are very grateful. God bless you.

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