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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 Tuesday 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!

I am pleased to announce that Elena Ilnitskaya and Kaka Felesia began as our new Children's Ministry Assistants on Sunday June 1st. For the month of June, they will be leading Godly Play at the 10.30am service and other children's ministry events. 

On Sunday June 15th at the 10.30am service we will bless and commission them for their new ministries at the Cathedral, after which we'll have a meet and greet during coffee hour. Please join me in warmly welcoming them.

Here is some information about Elena and a message from Kaka ...

From June 7 to 15, Dean Chris Pappas will be travelling to Whitehorse to support the ministry of Christ Church Cathedral and the wider Diocese of Yukon. His visit will include presiding at the Eucharist on Sunday, June 8 at Christ Church Cathedral, as well as leading a series of Vestry workshops focused on team building, conflict resolution, and leadership development on June 9, 11, and 13 in the evenings.

He will also offer worship services at two long-term care facilities on Tuesday, June 10, speak at an Ecumenical Prayer Breakfast on Wednesday, June 11, and lead Sunday worship at Trinity Lutheran Church on June 15. Throughout the week, Dean Chris will meet with Dean Vincent, Bishop Leslie, and lay and clergy leaders across the diocese to foster collaboration and deepen relationships.

Please keep Dean Chris and the people of the Yukon in your prayers during this time of shared ministry and mutual encouragement.

An important part of our Cathedral Strategic Planning process, Listening Circles are a chance to be together to explore the findings from the Census, the Future Outlook Survey and our own personal insights and aspirations for the future life of the Cathedral. 

Please sign up now for ONE of the Circles here: Christ Church Cathedral Listening Circles. 

The Listening Circles are scheduled for:

Sunday June 15th 12.30 PM to 2.30 PM
Saturday June 14th 1.00PM to 3.00PM
by Zoom 6.00PM to 8.00 PM Tuesday June 17th 
by Zoom 6.00PM to 8.00 PM Wednesday June 18th. 

These are important discussions. 

As always if you have any questions or thoughts about this or any other aspect of the Strategic Planning Process, please reach out to us through reception@thecathedral.ca.

Thank you for helping us grow together!

On behalf of the Cathedral Strategic Planning Steering Committee, 
Jennifer Barr and Jane Osler

Choral Evensong with the Cathedral Choir
Sundays@4 - June 8, 2025 - Pentecost
4pm, Christ Church Cathedral (no livestream)

Preces and Responses: Kenneth Leighton (1929-88)
Psalm: 145
Canticles: Herbert Howells (1892-1983) The Gloucester Service
Anthem: Herbert Howells, arr. Malcolm Archer (b. 1952) Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling

Join Director of Music and Organist, Neil Cockburn, and the Cathedral Choir for a traditional Anglican service of Choral Evensong according to the Book of Common Prayer.

Incense is used at all Sundays@4 services.

General Synod made June 21st, or the Sunday closest to it, the National Indigenous Day of Prayer. This is a day when we honour the cultures, traditions, and gifts of Indigenous peoples in the church and across the land known as Canada.

At this 40-min forum, Rev. Areeta will lead an exploration of the First Nations Version of the New Testament. We will look at the process that was used to create it and critiques of this project. We will do a bible study on the New Testament readings assigned for the day, which are also what we'll be hearing at the Eucharistic services that Sunday. 

There are times—more than we care to admit—when we are called into places where all we have is Christ.

Not our cleverness. Not our competence. Not our confidence. Just Christ.

I was praying through St. Patrick’s Breastplate recently, that ancient Celtic prayer of protection and presence. It’s not a gentle whisper of faith—it’s a full-throated invocation of God’s strength against the forces of chaos and evil. And it’s honest. It doesn’t pretend life is easy or ministry is safe. It simply declares that Christ is enough.

“Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me…”

Sometimes that’s all we’ve got. Sometimes it’s all we need.

But then, there’s the other voice. The darker one. The one that slithers in right after we’ve dared to hope or reach out or forgive. The one that says, “Who do you think you are?” “You’re beyond repair.” “God might love people—but not you.”

That voice lies.

Its power isn’t in its volume. It’s in its familiarity. Shame knows our native tongue.

And yet the Gospel speaks louder still.

In Christ, we are not beyond redemption. Not beyond forgiveness. Not beyond love.

If we believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, then we must also believe that He can raise us—even from the wreckage of our worst decisions, our most aching regrets, or our quiet self-hatred.

Forgiveness is not denial. It is resurrection.

So if you find yourself walking into places where you feel exposed, exhausted, or accused—go anyway.

Go with Christ in front of you. Behind you. Within you.

Because even if all you have is Christ… that is more than enough.

I may offer a little something to pray or carry today—it’s this:

Christ above the lies. Christ within the wound. Christ in the silence where shame once spoke. Christ in the place that looks like exile but is secretly resurrection.

Please note that incense is used at all Sunday 4pm Evening Prayer and 8pm Compline services.

Nora making sure that Mom gets the announcements right.

Photograph courtesy of Andrea Gailus

The Diocese of New Westminster stretches from the top of the Sunshine Coast through the Lower Mainland and out as far as Hope. Parish representatives [laity] of all 62 parishes and 4 worshipping communities of the Coast Salish First Nations, together with licensed clergy comprise Synod, the senior governance structure of this Anglican diocese. 

Synod is a ‘family’ gathering to learn, discuss and worship together, conduct an overview of both financial and ministry matters, hear reports, approve budgets and debate existing and arising issues. 

Synod opened with a land acknowledgement followed by a Eucharist. In his sermon, Archbishop John challenged everyone that in the changing and complicate world of our time we are called to be the church of 2025; how can we come to see we are being called to something new? We enjoyed rousing singing, reflective worship and sense of community that the church is larger than just our parish.  

As a first-time attendee, I found it very interesting to hear from other parishes about their outreach ministries and the various engagements in sustainable creation-centred work. It was good to be reminded that there are many vibrant ministries throughout the Diocese. 

Archbishop Andy John of Wales was the keynote speaker and described how the Anglican Church in Wales has had to change in many ways and yet, despite change being forced upon them, has found a vital and growing ministry. 

In working groups, we engaged in divergent thinking activities looking at different scenarios from places ranging from San Francisco, to the Kootenays and here in the lower mainland. 

We debated and voted on fourteen different resolutions.

One significant resolution changes the mandatory retirement age of clergy from 65 to 71 after which, at the discretion of the Bishop, clergy may be given one year renewal yearly up to the age of 76. Cathedral Trustee Shehnaz Hozimia Cavey seconded by Rev Helen Gunn presented a detailed motion For Peace, Justice and Reconciliation in the Holy Land. This motion received resounding approval. 

Christ Church Cathedral was represented by Dean Chris, Rev. Areeta, Rev. Christian, Rev. Kevin (Cathedral Clergy), Michael Law, Mark Halyk, Irene Pang, me (Cathedral Wardens), Douglas Yee and Shehnaz Hozimia Cavey (Cathedral Trustees).

Cathedral Members who have leadership positions in the Diocese are Kevin Smith, Vice Chancellor, Mark Halyk and Peter Roulston, elected to the Bishops Advisory Committee on Appointments, and Jane Hope, elected to the Court of the Diocese. 

Dear Friends, 

It has come to my attention that several of you have received emails from someone using my identity (but not my email address) asking for help. Please delete those messages. If you receive messages from someone claiming to be myself, or another member of our clergy team, look carefully at the email address. That is often a tell-tale sign that it's from a spammer. 

I'm trying to come up with a joke regarding phishing and that these people are NOT fishing for people in accordance with Jesus's instruction to share the Gospel... (feel free to let me know if you come up with something clever!)

A prayer for our digital safety:

We thank you, Holy One, for the gift of technology that allows us to find community online, to learn and at the best of times, to grow. We pray that you would help us be vigilant and discerning in our digital interactions. We pray for those who have suffered because of online crime. May your Spirit of healing be upon those whose privacy has been violated, whose identities have been stolen, and whose lives have been disrupted. We give thanks for the gift of wisdom, grace and for the gifts of firewalls, encryptions, and security measures that guard our devices. Amen.

Your sister in Christ,

Rev. Areeta

The Cathedral has a special retreat opportunity at Rivendell Retreat Centre on Bowen Island this June.

Rev. Areeta Bridgemohan and Gene Fraser, practitioner and facilitator of Contemplative prayer, will be co-leading a retreat which will provide an introduction to contemplative practice and an opportunity for community grounded in spirituality.

The contemplative practice will include times of quiet and centering prayer. 

A rough outline of the retreat is as follows: 

Friday June 27

Arrive at the Retreat Centre at 3pm

Dinner at 6pm

Saturday June 28

7am Breakfast

8am Centering prayer

12.30pm Lunch

6pm Dinner

Sunday June 29

7am Breakfast

10.30am Closing Eucharist

12pm Departure

---

Healing Touch is available for regular members of Christ Church Cathedral on the third Sunday of the month.
 
The next in-person Healing Touch offering will be on Sunday, June 15, 2025.
 
Sessions will be offered at 9:00am, 9:30am, 12pm and 12:30pm.
 
To register for a session please email healingtouch@thecathedral.ca to request a time. Please state “Healing Touch In Person” in the subject line.  

All requests from attendees will be considered, and confirmation emails sent by June 13th.
 
If you would like more information about Healing Touch, there are brochures in the rack outside the office.

We’re looking for friendly, enthusiastic volunteers to help welcome people to the Cathedral for the 1:30pm, 4pm and 8pm services on Sundays.

As a greeter, you’ll have the opportunity to create a warm, inviting atmosphere for everyone who walks through our doors—whether they’re first-time visitors or long-time members. Your smile, handshake, and kind words can help set the tone for a meaningful worship experience.

If you enjoy meeting new people and want to be a part of making our church a more welcoming place, we’d love to have you join the team!

Please email reception@thecathedral.ca if you are interested.

Morning Prayer on Zoom | Monday to Friday | 9:30am to 10:00am

Upper Zoom Bible Study of Sunday Readings | Thursdays | 7:15 p.m.

Fellowship for Parishioners of African Descent | Last Saturday of each month | 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Godly Play | June 8 | 10:30 a.m.

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.

St. Brigid’s Eucharist | 1:30 p.m.

Sundays@4 Choral Service | 4:00 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.

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