Beginning Sunday, 19 May, the Day of Pentecost, we will begin our new worship schedule.

There will be one service only on Sundays at 10:30 a.m., the Sung Eucharist.

The Dean’s Forum continues at 9:15 a.m. through 26 May, and will resume in the fall at 9 a.m.

All are welcome; we are all guests and Christ is the host.

Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.                                John 14:12-14

Uh oh.  Do the works that Jesus does?  And, in fact, do greater works than Jesus does?  Oy vey!

How’s that going for you?  Speaking for myself, I’d have to say it’s not going so well, at least not most of the time.  Thankfully, though, I am not alone, not even in the human sense:  I am part of something which is global, the worldwide community of Christ, in all its diversity and beauty, in all its mystery and majesty and power, and, yes, all its problems too.   But it is much more than just a human institution (Thanks be to God!), it is universal, transcending time itself because it is the Body of Christ, of which we are all a part, of which the rich Anglican tradition is one expression, of which Jesus Christ alone is head.  In him, in his power of creative love, and in the encouragement of, and the partnership with, the whole community, Jesus’ works become possible, even for me, even for us, even for a very human church.  And even greater works because since Jesus of Nazareth made these promises to the first disciples, there have been and are billions of us spanning the millennia.

But how can all this even be possible?  The text makes it sound like Jesus went off and left us:  “I am going to the Father.”  Well, that’s how it sounds at first, and that’s how it sounded to the first disciples too, apparently, because clearly they needed some reassurance.  They got what they asked for, what they needed, not necessarily what they wanted, although that too would come.  To ask for something ‘in Jesus’ name’ is to ask to be in tune with the will of God.  It’s not to ask for winning numbers in the lottery, or a parking spot, or, you fill in the _______________.  The disciples asked for reassurance, they asked not to be alone, they asked for strength to do the seemingly impossible task given them.  They didn’t know it yet, but they asked for the Holy Spirit; they asked for Pentecost.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.                  John 14:26-27

On that first Day of Pentecost Jesus’ promise was fulfilled, and the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church was born.  The Spirit of God, the Spirit of the risen Christ, was poured out in full measure on that small band of Jesus’ first followers.  In that power they moved out into the world, beyond Jerusalem and Judea, beyond Galilee and Tyre and Sidon, beyond, far beyond the world trod by Jesus of Nazareth, reaching greater audiences than ever he had, proclaiming the healing and reconciling Gospel of God’s love in Christ Jesus.  Thus, truly, in-Spired by Christ risen and present in all places through the Holy Spirit, they did greater works than Jesus of Nazareth, and the church was born.

We celebrate again the great Feast of Pentecost, the birthday of the church, third of three greatest festivals in the church calendar (along with Easter and Christmas), because we too are gifted with the very same Spirit.  We too are the church of Christ.  We too are blessed with the peace in abundance which the world cannot give.  We too are gifted with power enough to remake the world in partnership with God, if we are willing to let go of control and let God remake our hearts and minds also.  Are we, perhaps, afraid of a changing world, and a changing church?  No need.  “My peace I leave with you.”  Are we worried, fearful even, about an Anglican church, about a Cathedral parish, that won’t necessarily be the same forever?  No need. “Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”

Maybe by now you know the old saying of which I am so fond:  “We don’t know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.”  Pentecost is God’s seal on that.

Thanks be to God!

Thank you to The Rev. Brian Ford for presiding and preaching today, as well as leading the Dean’s Forum, with a preview of the texts for next Sunday, the great Festival of Pentecost, one of the three greatest feasts of the church calendar, with Christmas, the Nativity of Our Lord, and the greatest of all, Easter, the Resurrection of Our Lord.

I’ll be back at work later this week, after enjoying a time of rest and re-creation in Minnesota with family and friends.  I look forward to being back at the Cathedral to celebrate with you for the Day of Pentecost, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the birth of the church, the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church, the whole Body of Christ in the world.

Thanks be to God!

Thank you to The Rev. Canon Tony Harwood-Jones for taking the worship services this coming Sunday, May 5^th, at the Cathedral, and for leading the Dean’s Forum between services, with a look at the texts for the Ascension of Our Lord next week, always a Thursday, because it’s always forty days after Easter Sunday.

On Sunday week, May 12^th, our Honorary Assistant, The Rev. Brian Ford, will preside and preach at both services, as well as leading the Dean’s Forum, with conversation around the texts for the Sunday after, May 19^th, the third great Festival of the church calendar, the Day of Pentecost (from the Greek word for fifty), fifty days after Easter Sunday.  Thank you, Brian!  Our week of weeks, celebrating the Resurrection of Our Lord for forty nine days draws to a close.  But Pentecost remembers and gives thanks for the gift of the Holy Spirit to the church, promised by Jesus, and is thus traditionally celebrated as the birthday of the church, the whole church, the Body of Christ in the world.

I’m enjoying a time of rest and re-creation; I look forward to returning to the Cathedral in time to celebrate Pentecost with you, and to resuming my work in this parish in partnership with you, and in the Diocese of Rupert’s Land.

Thanks be to God!

On Thursday, April 25, 2013, Dorothy Evelyn Doyle (née Finch) passed away peacefully, at the age of 98 years, at Misericordia Place. Evelyn is survived and lovingly remembered by her son Robert and her granddaughters Andrea and Patricia Doyle. Evelyn is also survived by her nieces Audrey Love (Neil) and Patricia Finch of Thunder Bay. Evelyn was predeceased by her husband James Bernard Doyle in 1967 and her daughter-in-law Raymonde Lucie Doyle in 2008. She was also predeceased by her father James Robert Finch, her mother Dorothy Maud Finch, her sister Lilian Finch and her brother Frederick Finch. Evelyn will be remembered for her determination, independence and devotion to her family. She thoroughly enjoyed sharing summers with family and friends at Winnipeg Beach and travelling by train through western Canada. Evelyn will also be remembered for her love of reading and music and for her generosity in knitting sweaters for those she loved and baking fruit cakes for family and friends at Christmas. In addition to her tireless efforts at home, Evelyn was employed initially by Manitoba Cartage and Storage Limited and later by Livingston Industries Limited. She enjoyed being a member of the Oriana Singers and a member of St. John’s Cathedral (Anglican), serving on the Chancel Guild for many years. The family wishes to thank the wonderful nurses, health care aides and spiritual care worker at Misericordia Place MP3 for their care and compassion. The family also wishes to express its appreciation for the pastoral care ministry of St. John’s Cathedral. Funeral Eucharist Service will be held at St. John’s Cathedral (Anglican), 135 Anderson Ave., on Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at 1:00 p.m. with The Very Rev. Paul N. Johnson officiating. Reception will follow in the John West Hall of St. John’s Cathedral. Interment in Old Kildonan Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, donations may be made to Misericordia Health Centre Foundation, 99 Cornish Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3C 1A2 or St. John’s Cathedral, 135 Anderson Ave., Winnipeg, MB R2W 5M9. THOMSON FUNERAL HOME 669 Broadway, Winnipeg 783-7211 Send expressions of sympathy at http://www.thomsonfuneralchapel.com
As published in the Winnipeg Free Press on April 27, 2013

What you are doing is not good. You will surely wear yourself out, both you and these people with you.  For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.                                     Exodus 18:17b-18

On Tuesday this past week, April 23rd, the new Administrative Assistant to the Dean began work here at the Cathedral. Thanks be to God!
Thanks be also to Rene Jamieson and Roger Stagg, who have worked far above and beyond the call of duty as volunteers in the office for almost a year now. Roger, Rene, I personally want to thank you for all you have done this past year. What a gift to all of us! So thank you also on behalf of every person in this parish and on behalf of the Diocese, as you have helped keep our Cathedral connected with all of its people across Rupert’s Land.

Carol Hargreaves is now working full time in the Cathedral Office; her official title is Administrative Assistant to the Dean, but her job description is extensive and challenging. She is definitely up to it, and is already making a positive difference with her energy and gifts.
Carol comes originally from Ontario, but has now lived many years in Manitoba. In fact, she and her husband John live in the Cathedral neighbourhood, well within the original bounds of the Cathedral parish. Welcome to our staff, Carol! It is wonderful to have you here, and I look forward to working with you.

She graduated from Millbrook High School, Grade 13, as an Ontario Scholar, as valedictorian, and with various awards. She went on to do her Bachelor of Arts at Queen’s University in Kingston, with a major in Psychology. A few years ago, recognizing a changing work environment, and being a passionate and eager learner, Carol went back for further education at Red River College here in Winnipeg where she earned a Business Administration Diploma as a Gold Medal Recipient, with an Office Management major. She is an avid reader, enjoys crafts, art and design, along with movies and cooking and travel, and, of course, research and continuous learning.
As you come to visit the Cathedral office during the week, as you phone, please do welcome Carol to our staff, to her new position, whether you a member of the Cathedral parish, a cleric in the Diocese, or from the Synod Office. She will have questions, naturally, but she is a quick and eager study, and I am sure she will be very soon a potent and valuable contributor to our ministry as Cathedral and as Cathedral in partnership with the whole Diocese.

Finally, the Office is now open again with regular hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Carol has an hour off for lunch, and she is not available during that time unless you have made special arrangements with her.

Carol, the Cathedral welcomes you, the Diocese welcomes you, Wallace and Tom and I all welcome you to our staff team, and I’m pretty sure that Roger and Rene both welcome you wholeheartedly. Again, it’s great to have you along!

Thanks be to God!

How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard,
on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion.
For there the Lord ordained his blessing, life for evermore.

(Psalm 133)

Last week (April 11-14) I enjoyed the great pleasure and privilege of attending the annual North American Deans’ Conference gathering, this year in Toronto, hosted by The Cathedral Church of St. James, its Dean, The Very Rev. Douglas Stoute, and also the Archbishop of Toronto and the Metropolitan of Ontario, The Most Rev. Colin Johnson.  Thank you, St. John’s, and Bishop Don, for encouraging me to go, and funding my attendance. Thank you also, Douglas, and ++Colin.

As always, the best part of the gathering is the networking and learning that happens when a group gathers who share a unique and challenging role in the church, while also sharing unique opportunities and joys.  This year’s gathering was larger than last year’s in Denver, with many brand new deans included.  In total there were 23 Canadian Deans present (A record?), including 6 retired Deans, among whom was our very own Bob Osborne.  What a happy surprise it was to see Bob!  And Jan!  Both of them remain dear friends to me, and I thank God for them.  There were 31 Episcopal Deans present, including two who are retired.  Also along were 39 spouses (including Jan), for a total of 94, with our guest, the Dean of Jerusalem, The Very Rev. Hosam Naoum.  It was truly a gift to have him present with us, to remind us of how critically important it is that we support the church in the Holy Lands, so that we don’t end up with only a dead museum of Christian history, but continue in a living relationship with the oldest part of the Body of Christ.  Shukran iqtir (Thank you very much), Hosam!

As always, the agenda was full and rich:

North American Deans Conference, April 11 – 14, 2013

St James Cathedral Centre, Toronto, Ontario

“Future Tense – Tools for Cathedral Ministry in the 21st Century”

We also had on offer all the regular Cathedral Liturgies:

After the program, after the good meals, after worship, and after meeting and getting to know Deans and spouses from the Arctic to the Bahamas, from Cornerbrook to Honolulu, plus Jerusalem – our earthly mother church, along with our heavenly mother, the new Jerusalem – I came away feeling refreshed, feeling like I had absorbed much good experience, like I had even learned a few things, and grown in many relationships, especially in my journey within the Anglican Communion, but more importantly within the whole Body of Christ in this world which God loves so much.

So, with the ancient Psalmist I too can say again,

How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! 

Thanks be to God!

SHORE LUNCH WITH JESUS… 

When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.                                                               John 21:9-13

In John’s Gospel there is no Last Supper as such, that is, there is no account of the first Eucharist.  Jesus and the disciples do gather for the Passover meal, but he doesn’t offer bread and wine, doesn’t say, “Take and eat, this is my body, do this in remembrance of me.”  What we have, apparently in its place is this wonderful account of a shore lunch with Jesus, after the Resurrection.

I remember a shore lunch that seemed quite close to paradise at the time.  In August of 1989 Melanie and I went canoeing with her folks (Cynthia and Fritz) way up north in Saskatchewan – we were living in Regina at the time – in Davin Lake.  We were out for about five days, if memory serves, and had a wonderful time, even if it was a little chilly at night.  On our last day, paddling out, Fritz caught a perfect Lake Trout, big enough so that there was plenty for the four of us.  We pulled over on an island where there had been fire a few summers before, so the wild blueberries were thick and beautiful, and ripe.  Fritz cleaned and cooked that trout over a fire, in an iron skillet, and did it to perfection, while the rest of us gathered berries.  Then we feasted.  We feasted on the glorious food, yes, and on the beautiful scenery all around, on the joy of being healthy enough to be out there, and on great company.  How I thank God for memories like that.

But that lunch shared with Jesus, shared by Peter and Thomas and Nathaniel and James and John and two others, really was a taste of paradise, because they dined with, in the presence of, the risen Lord Jesus.  He prepared the food, gift of God’s creation, and then he fed them.  Finally, reminding us of the Eucharist again, and its purpose, he reminded Peter, in the hearing of all, that we are fed, we are strengthened, we are blessed, by the presence of the risen Christ to serve, to love in his name.  We are fed by Christ to love for Christ’s sake.

The same is true for us every time we gather together and share the Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion, the Eucharist; we are fed/strengthened/blessed by our crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ, who gifts us abundantly of himself, more than we can ask or imagine (the breaking nets), so that we in turn may go out into the world in his name, to love and serve the Lord.

Thanks be to God! 

http://www.phyllistickle.com/

Sylvia Scott Wortley died age 72 on Saturday, April 6, 2013, after a lengthy illness. She will be affectionately remembered by all to whom she taught music (including the boys at S.J.R.,) by the many artists with whom she performed in the 21 years of The Musical Offering and by the faithful supporters of that project; by her fellow members of the Royal Canadian College of Organists, by her choirs and the congregations of the various churches she served, most recently (since 1993) of Broadway Disciples United Church. Her memory will be especially cherished by her husband, John Wortley, their children Elin, Jill, Anne-Marie, Joel and Adrian, their spouses and their children; also by her siblings, Ross, Linda and Lauris. A memorial service will be held at Broadway Disciples United Church, Kennedy and Broadway, at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 10, 2013, with reception to follow. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Filmer Hubble Scholarship at the same church.
As published in the Winnipeg Free Press on April 09, 2013