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!

Please find below a letter from Bishop John Stephens regarding the resignation of the Archbishop Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury. 

We all have a part in dismantling racism. Please join Kathy Irwin, Director of Operations, at the Dismantling Racism training being held at the Diocese of New Westminster, on November 23 at 8:45am to 4:00pm. Registration closes on Monday, November 18th.

This day is part of the Cathedral's participation in the Diocesan Screening in Faith program that all volunteers are encouraged or required to take.

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.

The Cathedral Climate Action group (CATS) is inviting the congregation to light candles and pray for the UN Sponsored conference COP29 on climate change taking place in Azerbaijan, Nov. 11-22. We will gather on Nov. 17 after the 10:30 service, near the altar. 

We will be joining with faith communities across Canada to thank God for the beauty of our earth and to pray together that world leaders will take decisive action to reduce carbon emissions. Children, young people and all who care for the earth are especially welcome to this brief service.

December 8th, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. — Carolfest

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.

Please give your favourite Carol choices to Carol Cook — in church or email them to zimbab@me.com by November 24th.

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.

February 22nd, 2025 — Final Celebration

A party for all, in the church. This will be a wonderful community event, please save the date. More info coming later.

Sunday, December 15 | 7pm
Christ Church Cathedral
690 Burrard St at Georgia

$25 | Eventbrite

Vancouver, BC — Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver is delighted to announce a special event, Voices of Gratitude, celebrating the remarkable ministry of Dr. Rupert Lang, who has served as the Organist and Director of Music from 1986 to 2024. This joyous event will take place on Sunday, 15 December, at 7PM.

[…]

Dear Children and Grownups, 

We are glad you are here! We treasure your belonging to our community and are delighted to be companions in your journey with Jesus.

[...]

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”.

[…]

Anglican World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF)

Come to the table in the hall after the 10:30 am Services Nov. 17 and Dec. 1.

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.

The Peace and Justice Unit of the diocese 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. This will involve meetings in November in Ottawa with politicians and organizations working towards peaceful solutions in our 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.

Folks who will be on the Peace Train leaving Vancouver, Friday November 15, 2024 will be in attendance at the gathering at Canadian Memorial Church Thursday eve Nov. 14 at 6:00 pm.

[…]

Read the Bishop's Letter
(click to be redirected)

Canada’s Peace Diplomacy petition
(click to be redirected)

A huge THANK YOU to all who have already submitted their pledge for 2025. We very much appreciate your leadership in this regard!

As we all consider our gifts and what a financial pledge to the Cathedral might look like, I thought it helpful to provide an update on 2024 donations.

As shown on the chart above, donations were below budget for the first two quarters of the year (79% and 83% of budget respectively). While donations reached 99% of the budget for the summer quarter, as shown in the chart, that quarter has the lowest budget of the year (183k).

However, I am hopeful that the summer momentum will continue through the fall quarter when our budget is 50% higher than the average of the first three quarters (yikes).

And, for those who have yet to submit their pledge for 2025, it would be wonderful if you did so by the end of November. While your pledge would be gratefully received at any time, providing it by the end of the month is very helpful to the 2025 budgeting process.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or another member of the stewardship committee.

Thank you,

Jane Osler

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. 

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

Prayer is our way of sharing fellowship with God. Our relationship with God can be through both thought and word. We can talk to God through worship and meditation. There is an old saying that when we sing we pray twice, once with lyrics and once with melody.

Our communication with God can take several different forms. We use words of adoration and praise. We express our thanksgiving. We ask for forgiveness for our shortcomings through confession and we pray for God’s help for ourselves and others. As Reverend Areeta has said, “God will abide with us in everything.”

[…]

This past Sunday’s service, blending Remembrance Day and All Souls’ Day, was a potent combination of the personal and the global.

I’ve worked in war zones for three decades, met with many widows and orphans and listened to countless tales of loss and destruction.

But after losing my mother last year (who fought a valiant battle against ALS), my empathy for other people’s loss has grown in a profound way. It’s increasingly difficult for me to separate the personal from the global – or as Leonard Cohen put it in his song Love Calls You by Your Name – “between the newsreel and your tiny pain/ once again/once again/ Love calls you by your name.”

[…]

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

Christmas Mass 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.

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.

The Cathedral's 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 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. 

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