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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 2025 is 20254630. Rate details are available here.

You can watch past live-streamed services on our YouTube channel — click to watch the ones you missed or rewatch the ones you enjoyed!

20254630

If you park at Park Place for Cathedral services, please note that we have been issued a new parking code for use in 2025.

On Saturday, March 1 at 7:30 PM, the British Columbia Regiment Irish Pipes & Drums will be joined by the 15th Field Artillery Band for the 3rd Annual Piping for the Padre. The concert is a fundraiser for the Padre’s Fund, which provides support for the women and men of the reserves, particularly the BC Regiment. The fund provides resources for resilience training, physical training, and spiritual and mental support, as well as financial support for the troops.

[…]

The Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Vancouver Commandery, has awarded a $10,000 grant to the Padre’s Fund to support Christ Church Cathedral’s Regimental ministry to the British Columbia Regiment (BCR) Reservists, with the aim of primarily funding Pastoral and Spiritual Support, Resilience and Outreach Ministries to the Troops and Veterans of the British Columbia Regiment (BCR) — Duke of Connaught’s Own. The Cathedral has been the Regimental Church of the British Columbia Regiment since the Colours were first laid up in 1919.

[…]

Marking 1,700 years after the Council of Nicaea codified the Nicene Creed, the authoritative expression of faith in Western and Eastern churches, Christians of varied denominations gathered at the John Paul II Pastoral Centre to recite the creed and pray for the healing of divisions during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

“Christians around the world are celebrating the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council held at Nicaea in modern-day Turkey,” Archbishop J. Michael Miller told the gathering of John Paul II pastoral staff and members of various Christian denominations.

[…]

Join us to learn about the Cathedral’s 2025 budget. Terrence Clark, the Cathedral Treasurer, will be presenting. It will be a great opportunity for you to learn more about our priorities over the upcoming year, to ask questions and discern your role in supporting ministry at the Cathedral.

Are you interested in supporting children and their families on their faith journeys? Do you know anyone who might be a good fit for leading Sunday School at the Cathedral? 

Then please download the job posting from the website and share it!

On Sunday, February 23, we will combine the 8:00 a.m. service, the 10:30 a.m., Saint Brigid’s, and the six weekday services into a single 10:30 a.m. service prior to the Annual Vestry Meeting. This will offer an opportunity to worship together and then attend the Annual Vestry Meeting to celebrate what we've accomplished and what we look forward to in the next year.

We are excited to announce that the Cathedral is offering outstanding new music worship services beginning on the First Sunday of Lent, March 9, 2025. The Series is called "Sundays at 4" and will feature a different 45-minute music-centered worship each Sunday. The first offering, on Lent 1, will play to the strengths of our music program and choir with a Choral Evensong.

Subsequent Sundays will rotate through a variety of styles like: Holden Evening Payer, Taize, Organ Vespers, and the Dean's favourite, Broadway Vespers, to name a few. Please mark your calendar and plan to join us for some powerful worship!

The weekly service of Compline that runs at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday evenings from Candlemas to Christ the King will pause for an additional 11 weeks and resume on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025. The delay is due to some technical adjustments being made and we look forward to inviting everyone back on Easter Sunday. 

The Diocese of New Westminster is pleased to launch a diocesan-wide youth confirmation class. Led by three clergy in the diocese, including Rev. Jessica who worships at the Cathedral, this program is open to youth, between 14 and 18 years old. 

Current locations are: 

Diocesan Office - 1410 Nanton Avenue, Vancouver

St. Philip - 3737 W 27th Ave W, Vancouver

St. Anselm - 5210 University Blvd, Vancouver

The confirmation service will be held on June 14 at Christ Church Cathedral (690 Burrard Street). 

To register, please email the Rev. Jessica Schaap (jschaap@vancouver.anglican.ca). 

Date: February 8, 2025
Time: 9:30am - 5:00pm
Location: Vancouver School of Theology (Epiphany chapel)
Price: $15.00 (Morning coffee, tea, refreshments and lunch provided)
Register: https://tinyurl.com/mouldedbyprayer
Deadline to Register: February 4, 2025

A day for clergy and lay people to focus on our lives of worship and prayer. This day is for people seeking to revitalize their personal prayer life and, for community leaders, that of their community. Pottery and the act of moulding and being moulded is our guiding metaphor.

Adopting a retreat-like pace, we will gather for worship drawing on new resources such as Pray without Ceasing (the newly printed Morning and Evening Prayer of the Anglican Church of Canada), and Sing a New Creation (the new hymnal supplement of the ACC).

Different sessions are suitable for clergy and lay people, those new to the idea of “spiritual practice,” and those who are looking to expand their options. All sessions (except one) will follow a similar format of teaching, practicing, and reflecting. You will come away with an experience of prayer and also the tools to share and teach that form of prayer to others.

Concurrent morning sessions (75 mins)

• The Via Contemplativa (lecture format)
• Psalms for Praying
• Centering Prayer
• Praying With Collaged Images

Concurrent afternoon sessions (75 mins)

• Praying for Healing in Worship
• Lectio Terra: The Practice of Placefulness
• Listening prayer
• Praying with Youth

Following our worship at mid-day, we will engage in the ancient process of mystagogy - a simple guided way to reflect on one's experience of a liturgy. This is a form of spiritual formation the early church used to embed and develop Christian living through the worshipping life of the whole community. Again, you will come away with the ability to share this practice in your small group, parish or congregation.

We will close by reflecting on the day and discerning our next steps as we grow in our own prayer life. For community leaders, this reflection time includes discerning how to nurture the prayer and worship of those with whom we journey.

[…]

Kairos is our ecumenical justice organization in Canada. The Anglican Church of Canada is part of Kairos. 

Kairos has launched a Jubilee initiative called Turn Debt into Hope asking for the forgiveness of debt of the poorest nations. The theme of the Year of Jubilee is “Pilgrims of Hope.” Inspired by this theme,  and the scripture passage Luke 4:14-21, Kairos launched Turn Debt into Hope. 

You are invited to look at the petition information from Kairos and consider signing (click on the button below).

Are you looking for a way to deepen your spiritual life? Every weekday morning at 9:30am the Cathedral holds Morning Prayer.

We will follow a simple liturgy with a Psalm, a Reading, Prayer and Silence. This form of regular, daily prayer is used in the Anglican Communion and a number of other church denominations. All are welcome to start the day in prayer with us.

Morning Prayer takes place online via Zoom. To join in, please email Morning Prayer for Zoom coordinates.

We are delighted to announce the wedding of Samantha Chang and Matthew Nichiporuk on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.. Matthew is one of our servers and seminary students. Join us at the Cathedral to celebrate their marriage! 

The Final event for our 135 celebration is nearing and tickets will be available January 26th, February 2nd and 9th. Pick up your tickets in the Hall at coffee hour.

You need a ticket to attend although there is no cost. Firstly we need to know how many are attending, for catering — we can accommodate a maximum of 140 people. We also need to know of dietary restrictions such as gluten free or vegan — there will be lots of vegetarian pizzas.

There will be a cash bar where beer, wine, or soft drinks can be purchased. We will set up an area in the Peace alcove where young children can play during the event.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

On Sunday, February 2nd (Candlemas Day/The Feast of The Presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple), downtown Vancouver was hit with significant amounts of morning snowfall. 

Thanks to the immense efforts of the Cathedral’s Events Coordinator Jeremy Smith and Pastor Matthew Senf (who sprung into snow shovelling action upon his arrival at the Cathedral), the sidewalks and various entryways to the Cathedral were kept free of snow and were made safe for all attending the service. And young parishioners Eamon and Ellis, complete with their snow boots on, processed up with the Collection during the Offertory hymn.

-Jane Dittrich

Yes, Healing Touch, in person, has returned for members of Christ Church Cathedral.

The next Healing Touch offering will be on Sunday, 16 February 2025.

There will be 2 sessions offered - at 9:00am and at 9:30am, and 2 after the morning service - 12pm and 12:30pm.

To register for a session please email the office at reception@thecathedral.ca to request a time. State “Healing Touch In Person” in the subject line.

All requests will be considered, and confirmation emails sent by February 14.

If you would like more information about Healing Touch, there are brochures in the rack outside the office.

Limited copies of the 2025 Multifaith Calendar, "Pathways to Peace", are available: $15 each or 2 for $25.

For more information, or to order your copy, contact Donna Wong-Juliani: donna@thecathedral.ca.

Neil Cockburn will perform a solo organ recital at St James’ Anglican Church featuring works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Sir Charles Villiers Stanford, and Louis Vierne. Neil has been described as an immensely gifted musician and the concert at St James’ promises to be a unique and captivating experience, showcasing his mastery of the instrument and his versatility as a performer. A brilliant musician on the majestic organ at St James' Anglican Church: the perfect combination! For more information and for tickets (from $20) visit sjmusic.ca.

Join Dean Christopher Pappas, the Cathedral’s Representative to Sorrento Centre Jane Dittrich, the Rev. Clare Morgan, and programming course leader the Rev. Canon Dr. Harold Munn for Christ Church Cathedral’s 2025 week at Sorrento Centre, July 20-26th!

Mark your calendars, contact Sorrento Centre (https://sorrentocentre.ca/) for booking information, and stay tuned in the coming weeks for full details!  

-Jane Dittrich

In this update...

• February Voices of Hope/Voix d'espoir - Read about PWRDF's support for the Tzeltal Indigenous Communities of Mexico.
 

The latest PWRDF News...

• Changing the trauma of war for children in Gaza
• The backbone of the community
• Our new name - Alongside Hope

Plus resources and upcoming events

• 2024 Annual Report in English and French now online
• International Development Week - Feb 3-7
• Praying with PWRDF on February 13
• Lenten resource launch on February 20
• Alongside Hope FAQ online

Earth Teach Me

Earth teach me stillness 
as the grasses are stilled with light.
Earth teach me suffering
as old stones suffer with memory.
Earth teach me humility
as blossoms are humble with beginning.
Earth Teach me caring
as the mother who secures her young.
Earth teach me courage
as the tree which stands alone.
Earth teach me limitation
as the ant which crawls on the ground.
Earth teach me freedom
as the eagle which soars in the sky.
Earth teach me resignation
as the leaves which die in the fall.
Earth teach me regeneration
as the seed which rises in the spring.
Earth teach me to forget myself
as melted snow forgets its life.
Earth teach me to remember kindness
as dry fields weep in the rain.

David Owen’s life will be celebrated on February 7, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. The service will be live-streamed for those unable to attend in person, and a reception will follow.

Please keep his family in your prayers.

Father Charles Nixon was born on June 11, 1939, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He studied at the Atlantic School of Theology and graduated in 1975. He was ordained on June 29, 1978, in the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and began ordained ministry by serving in the multi-point parish of Annapolis Royal. He then moved to much warmer climes to be assistant priest of St. John the Evangelist parish in Hamilton, Bermuda. Returning to Canada, he was rector of two parishes in the Diocese of Quebec, St. James Stanbridge East and St. Stephen Lachine.

In retirement, Fr. Charles and his wife, June, moved to Vancouver. He served as an assistant priest at St. James and also at Christ Church Cathedral. Fr. Charles had an Anglo-Catholic background in terms of liturgy and church governance. He made many friends in the Diocese of New Westminster but was never canonically resident here. In his ministry in all the parishes in eastern Canada, Bermuda, Quebec and New Westminster, Charles was appreciated for his warmth and good humour. He took his ordination vows very seriously and his calling to proclaim by word and deed the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are grateful for his ministry and his calling.

Fr. Charles passed peacefully on January 19, 2025, in Vancouver. He leaves June — to whom he was married for 62 years —, their daughter Lisa (David), and their son Charles, along with grandsons Matthew and Jack. There will be a requiem for Fr. Charles at St. James’ in February. The date will be shared once plans are finalized. Please remember him and his family in your prayers.

Rest eternal grant to Charles, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon him.

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of David McLean, O.B.C., LL.D., F.ICD, on January 23, 2025, at the age of 86. A celebrated business leader, philanthropist, and dedicated supporter of numerous institutions, David's legacy has left an indelible mark on our community.

In accordance with his family’s wishes, the celebration of his life will be private. Please keep his loved ones in your thoughts and prayers during this time.

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.
(to resume on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025)

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 prayers for themselves or others may email the Cathedral PrayerLink at prayerlink@thecathedral.ca to have their name added to the list.