St. John's Cathedral Weekly Update

Weekly News Update

Deans' Note | September 26, 2021

Wednesday evening we had an insightful and hopeful panel discussion concerning the health of the city at this stage in the pandemic. The conversation was particularly helpful as we move ahead toward the start of our official program year on October 3. As you know, we are returning to two services (8am and 10am). Our choir returns and it will feel a lot more "normal."

We invite you to listen to the panel discussion, recorded and linked in this issue of the Update. What we learned is that there is good news. There are signs that the Delta variant is waning. There is a high vaccination rate and efforts to vaccinate more people continue to be underway through efforts of mobile and pop-up sites run by Dr. Jerry Abraham and city officials like Curren Price in our city council district, both of whom participated in our panel, along with many others. Vaccination of school age children is on the horizon as well.

At the same time, as The Rev. Dawnesha Beaver (New Mount Calvary, Missionary Baptist Church) noted, God is bringing us through this flood like Noah, but it's not safe to jump ship entirely just yet. We still need to follow the existing protocols about wearing masks indoors for example until they change. And we will continue to use the new tools we have discovered in the pandemic, most notably hybrid services and Christian education and the use of ZOOM for many meetings.

So there is reason for cautious optimism as we move into this new program year. We know, as our panelist Martha Watson mentioned, that many people are still living with anxiety, and we must acknowledge any trauma we may have experienced in the last year and a half. Acknowledging that anxiety is the first step of healing and moving beyond it. We may not be able to get ourselves off the boat quite yet. But the rainbow is on the horizon.

Vaccination Policy

Don't forget to bring your vaccine card to mass if you have not already done so! We are continuing to build our Cathedral Vaccination Registry. Facial coverings continue to be required."

Vestry On-Call

This Sunday's Vestry Person On-Call

Mr. Arnie Ree (2024)

Vestry members are partners with clergy, encouraging the growth of community and the establishment of common ground in the spiritual life of the congregation. Parishioners are always welcome to speak with these individuals on Sunday morning; they assist in making sure our questions, comments, or concerns are heard.

Upcoming Events

Sunday Mass

Sunday, October 3, 2021

8:00 am and 10:00 am

Join us for the start of our program year for our 8:00 am Mass (Spoken) in the Lady Chapel and at 10:00 am for Mass in the sanctuary which will see the return of our choir after their summer break. We will be observing the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels.

Sunday Morning Christian Education

In September Christian Education begins at 10:30 am

SEPTEMBER 26, 2021

Join us this Sunday for Christian Education at 10:30 am. We welcome back New Testament scholar, farmer, and activist Sylvia Keesmaat; who discusses the theology of creation in the New Testament and the implications of faith in the farm she runs with her husband Brian Walsh. Sylvia and Brian were with us last year as we studied the Book of Romans.

Dr. Sylvia Keesmaat is a biblical scholar, farmer, permaculture practitioner and activist. She is an Adjunct Professor at Trinity College, Toronto, and is the author (with Brian Walsh) of Romans Disarmed: Resisting Empire, Demanding Justice and Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire. She speaks frequently on topics related to the Bible and justice, the climate crisis, and permaculture. Sylvia lives on an off-grid, solar-powered permaculture farm in the Kawartha Lakes with her husband, Brian Walsh, and a fluctuating number of people and animals.

Russet House Farm is an off-grid 50 acre permaculture farm, a place to explore the intersection between permaculture, resilience, and radical Christian discipleship. We welcome people to the farm for short or long stays to learn about intensive vegetable growing, food forests, rotational grazing, food and land preservation. Cows, pigs, chickens, cats, dogs, birds, and insects are at home on the farm, along with an increasing number of fruit and nut trees.

How's that? You can find out more on their website: www.russethousefarm.ca

Her new educational endeavour, Bible Remixed, has gone live online.

She is teaching a couple of courses this Fall via Zoom.

Learn more on her website: www.bibleremixed.ca and on her Facebook page www.facebook.com/bibleremixed

In October Christian Education begins at 11:30 am

OCTOBER 3, 2021

Fr. Mark explores the story of Noah and its implications for our current eco-crisis.

OCTOBER 10, 2021

Welcome Mari Joerstaad, Academic Dean, Vancouver School of Theology and Old Testament Scholar, as she explores The stories of the Prophet Elisha in the Book of Kings as a source wisdom for our relationship with all earth's creatures.

OCTOBER 17, 2021

We close out the series with Tim Alderson, director of Seeds of Hope, a Ministry of the Diocese of Los Angeles. Tim will bring us down to earth, as he discusses how our theology can have grassroots application in activism.

Evening Prayer

via Facebook Live

Join us for evening prayer every Tuesday and Thursday via Facebook Live at 6:30 pm.

St. John's Cathedral Facebook Page

The Cathedral Choral Academy

Currently Enrolling!

Do you know a child that loves to sing? The Cathedral Choral Academy provides quality music education to girls and boys ages 7 - 14, regardless of prior musical experience. All children receive a full scholarship. This program meets every Thursday from 5 - 7pm (dinner included!) and includes multiple performance opportunities throughout the year.

For more information, email Mr. Stephen Salts at ssalts@stjohnsla.org.

Community

Courtyard Clean Up

October 1, 2021

Our administrator is looking for one to two individuals who might be willing to assist in a clean up of our fountain courtyard (removing several plants, and placing pots). Please let the office know if you would be interested.

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