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If you wish to see something published in this newsletter, please either fill out the Communication Request Form (click to be redirected to the Cathedral website) or email your edited and proofed text to newsletters@thecathedral.ca by Wednesday at Noon. If you have any questions, please email us at newsletters@thecathedral.ca.

Please note that these are the only two communication channels used in the creation of this newsletter.

If you attend in person on Sundays, a special parking rate is available at the Park Place Parkade. The parking code for 2024 is 18932447. Rate details are available here.

You can watch past live-streamed services on our YouTube channel. Click on the button below and watch the ones you missed or rewatch the ones you enjoyed!

Rev. Areeta Bridgemohan will be away from December 1 to December 7.

We are looking for a volunteer with a current Serving It Right certificate, to serve with another volunteer at the reception following the Voices of Gratitude celebration, December 15th (7 to 9pm).

Voices of Gratitude is a celebration of the ministry of our beloved Director of Music, Rupert Lang, who is retiring. 

If you have a certificate and wish to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime event, please email Kathy at kathy@thecathedral.ca.

Each year we give our guests a gift of warm socks, gloves/mitts, scarves, and toques. There will be a basket in the Narthex for your donations.

Thank you from the Maundy Café volunteers

Our guest preacher for all services on Sunday, December 1, is the Right Reverend Benny Lang-akan, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of the Northern Philippines, a companion Diocese of our Diocese of New Westminster.

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Kumusta ka*?: a 40-min forum with Bishop Benny: 

Bishop Benny will share his reflections on life and ministry in the Northern Philippines. Join us to hear what the life of the Church looks like in our companion diocese.

*kumusta ka means how are you? in Tagalog

Open your heart to the mystery and wonder of the Advent season. Take part in Advent Lessons & Carols, a candlelit, music-filled service designed to help you start your journey toward Christmas. 

[…]

Join us to celebrate Advent - the beginning of the Christian new year. This is our first in a series of joint child-centred worship events with St. Andrew's Wesley United Church. 

The service will begin at 4pm with gathering for singing and story and then move into creative response centres followed by worship and then supper. We look forward to seeing you there! 

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Parking: There is parking available with a parking pass in St. Andrew's underground parkade. St. Andrew's will have them available when people come into the sanctuary. Please park on P2B or P3A for the passes to be honored.

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For more information, please contact the Rev. Areeta Bridgemohan: areeta@thecathedral.ca | ext. 127.

To RSVP, please email signup@standrewswesley.com

If you're new to the Cathedral, and would like to meet some other new folks and some of our ministers, please stop by for a cup of tea/coffee and a treat. We'll spend some time getting to know one another, have an opportunity to ask questions about the Cathedral and to share your experiences of church and what brings you here. 

No need to RSVP, just drop by. We look forward to getting to know you!

Remember how much we enjoyed Hymnfest? Here’s a last chance to sing your heart out with members of the cathedral choir, under the direction of Rupert.

There will be a gingerbread cookie to take home! Please bring friends as well to help us make a glad noise to celebrate the music and Rupert.

As we prepare for our beloved Director of Music, Dr. Rupert Lang's departure, join us to celebrate the history of music at the Cathedral. Stephen Wright will be presenting. Grab your coffee, a cookie and join us in the Parish hall. A light lunch will also be served. 

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A little bit about Stephen: 

Trained as a musicologist and librarian, Stephen Wright is also a chess teacher and tournament arbiter. He has been a section lead in the Cathedral Choir for over twenty years and was previously a member of Chor Leoni.

An update regarding the December 15th Voices in Gratitude celebration due to the generous sponsorship by the Cathedral Choir, Voices in Gratitude has been changed to a free event. This is both to honour Rupert’s stellar career and to thank the cathedral community for their unwavering support and enthusiasm over the years.

Register through Eventbrite (click to be redirected) and please join us Sunday evening December 15th, at 7:00 p.m.

Mixing Science and Celtic Mysticism: A four part series for the Season of Advent looking at Celtic theology as offered by several Celtic saints. Into this mix will be added some scientific thought and study, Celtic prayers and life experience. This will all be tied to the Season of Advent as we make time to prepare for the coming of Christ.

This series will be led by Bishop John Stephens (our diocesan bishop).

Nov 26, 2024 07:00 PM
Dec 3, 2024 07:00 PM
Dec 10, 2024 07:00 PM
Dec 17, 2024 07:00 PM

The Upper Zoom is going into recess as of November 24, so that people can join the Bishop’s Zoom lecture series on Tuesdays during Advent. It will return on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at 7.15 p.m.

Compline is not sung during Advent and Christmas, and will return in the New Year under the new Music Director. Stay tuned for a specific return date.

Rev. Dr. Harold Munn, former Dean of Edmonton, and former Anglican mentor at the Vancouver School of Theology, will be in Vancouver next year. Copies of the resource book will be available: “Faith in Doubt: how my dog made me an atheist and atheism made me a priest”.

[…]

With the support of the diocese and Bishop John Stephens, the Justice and Peace Unit is endorsing the intent of the Peace Train initiative whose goal is to re-establish conversation and action in Canada regarding our role in ‘Negotiating’ towards peace throughout the world. The website on the attached poster has a description of this intent along with a petition to parliament which Canadians are invited to sign.

The paper petition to Parliament is now on our website www.peacetraincanada.com with instructions on how to collect signatures and mail in completed petitions by December 15, 2024. Remember that sending a letter to a Member of Parliament does not require a stamp.

The Justice and Peace Unit of the diocese is firmly in support of this way of engaging in our world as Canadians. In the midst of so much that divides, Canada can lead peace-building in our world.

Below you will find a letter from Bishop John.

Please be in touch with the Rev. Margaret Marquardt Chair of the Justice and Peace Unit for any further inquiries. 

Anglican World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF)

Come to the table in the hall after the 10:30 am service on December 1st.

Meet with Pastor Margaret.

Learn about PWRDF and pick up a pack (12) of Christmas cards. See the latest design in the update attached as well as other designs.

Make a donation of $25.00: RECEIVE an income tax receipt and A PACK of CHRISTMAS CARDS!

Bring a cheque book or your credit card or cash.

Dear Dean Pappas,

My name is Daniel Adams, and I'm a parishioner at Christ Church Anglican (Rev. Kevin Arndt) in Cranbrook, BC. My 21yr old daughter, Carrie, is an apprentice chef here in Cranbrook, and will be at VCC for a course in the culinary program from February 17 to March 22, 2025. 

I am wondering if I may be so bold as to ask if you could put an announcement to your parish bulletin if anyone would be willing to let her billet with them while she is in Vancouver? She would only need a place to sleep, do her laundry and of course pay whatever the host would think is fair. Carrie is a mature, polite and responsible young woman, and would be an exemplary guest.

I may be reached at danieladams4660198@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Kind regards,

Daniel Adams 

CATS held a prayer vigil with members of the congregation after the 10:30 service on Nov. 17 to pray for all the attendees at the COP 29 conference on climate change, and to pray that global leaders would take decisive action to reduce carbon emissions.

One of the congregation participants, who is eleven years old, wrote and read this beautiful prayer at the vigil:

"God of all creation, we come to you with hearts full of hope for our world and for our future generations. Bless the leaders, activists, and every person who is gathering at COP 29. Grant them courage wisdom and unity as they make decisions for the health of our planet. May their actions reflect love and responsibility toward the Earth and all the life it sustains. Inspire them to find common ground and pursue justice and compassion in their work. May peace and purpose guide their path now and always. God help us honour this planet with choices that sustain and restore so that it may flourish in all its beauty and vitality".

Those seeking prayer may email the Cathedral PrayerLink at prayerlink@thecathedral.ca to have their prayers added to the weekly list. Members of the Prayer Link and the Healing Prayer team offer these prayers in their daily prayer practice.

The Cathedral’s Sunday Morning Healing Prayer ministry is centered on healing through prayer. This ministry acknowledges that healing is God’s work and that those who offer this ministry are instruments of the divine presence and care for people.

Prayers for healing are offered in the Healing Chapel on Sundays during the distribution of the Eucharist with a posture of trust, openness, and faith that God will continue the healing ministry of Christ through the Church. Our ministry with and amongst those who are sick is about God’s unfolding healing process, rather than a cure. 

As most may know, Rupert Lang is retiring at the end of this year after many years of dedicated service since being appointed in August 1986 as Director of Music and Organist at the Cathedral. Many parishioners have been asking about making a gift to Rupert in recognition and a thank you for all that Rupert has offered in his long service to the congregation. There will be a Purse collection, to be presented to Rupert at the 10.30 service on December 22nd.

Starting Sunday, November 24th, parishioners will be collecting funds in the narthex before the 10.30 a.m. service as well as at coffee hour afterwards and continuing for the following 4 weeks. There will also be opportunities to give at some 8 a.m. and St Brigid services, tbd. Please note that this Purse is a gift to Rupert and tax receipts cannot be issued. Please bring cash or a cheque made out to Rupert Lang, or if you wish confidentiality, made out to Ian Birtwell, noting Rupert in the memo line. For further info, and for e-transfer of a gift, please contact Ian Birtwell (ianbirtwell@shaw.ca, 604 655 8482), or Jane Osler (pjosler@gmail.com, 604 512 1197‬). Cheques made out to the Cathedral cannot be accepted for this purpose.

We invite you to join the Cathedral leaders making a pledge for 2025. We hope you will commit to the future of the life of the Cathedral and its ministries by making a pledge. Packages are now being mailed out if we have your address.
 
And this year, for the first time, you can register your pledge on the website at https://www.thecathedral.ca/pages/give.  This is a new initiative for us and we welcome your feedback on how we can improve this process.
 
Finance is one element, along with time and talent, that makes up our gifts. All of these are important and we are truly grateful for all the ways this community gives. 

Guest Preacher Bishop Benny Lang-akan | Sunday, December 1 | All services

Advent Lessons & Carols | Sunday, December 1 | 4:00 p.m. (In-Person & Live Stream)

9 Lessons & Carols | Sunday, December 22 | 4:00 p.m. (In-Person & Live Stream)

Gospel for the City | Tuesday, December 24 | 1:00 p.m. (In-Person & Live Stream)

Carols for the City | Tuesday, December 24 | 4:00 p.m. (In-Person & Live Stream)

Christmas for the City | Tuesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) | 8:00 p.m. (In-Person & Live Stream)

Christmas for the City | Tuesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) | 11:00 p.m. (In-Person)

Holy Communion | Wednesday, December 25 (Christmas Day) | 8:00 a.m. (In-Person)

Choral Eucharist | Wednesday, December 25 (Christmas Day) | 10:30 a.m. (In-Person & Live Stream)

Cathedral Week at Sorrento Centre | July 20 — July 26, 2025

The Cathedral office is open Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Staff contact information is available here. 

REGULAR SUNDAY SERVICES

Holy Communion | 8:00 a.m.

Choral Eucharist | 10:30 a.m.

Eucharist with St. Brigid’s | 1:30 p.m.

Compline | 8:00 p.m.
(from February until November)

WEEKDAY SERVICES

Holy Eucharist | Monday—Friday
12:15 p.m.

Holy Eucharist | Thursday
7:30 a.m. (with breakfast following)

Rite of Reconciliation (Confession) | 4th Wednesday
11:00 a.m.—Noon

Healing Prayers & Anointing | Wednesday
Following the 12:15 p.m. Eucharist

ONLINE

If you wish to worship with us online, click on the button below.

Those seeking prayer may email the Cathedral PrayerLink at prayerlink@thecathedral.ca to have their name added to the list.