Supper Club resumes on September 30th 2019

We are thrilled to invite you to another season of Supper Club gatherings.

What do we do?

Well... we hang out and chat, we mingle in a relaxed, informal way. Come as you are. Supper Club is not fancy! Kids of all ages are welcome and included to attend and participate. We provide the food (gluten free and vegan).
Please bring your own wine.
Arrive at 5:30 if you can because that is the best time to have a glass of wine and get to know one another.
There will be opportunities for worship, prayer and conversation.

Supper Club is not a lecture, there are no sermons. It is a place for you to bring questions about your faith, share concerns, to be heard and to listen.
This year we will be reflecting on Rachel Held Evans' book "Inspired". It would be helpful if you access to the book but is not required as we will be discussing and reading passages together at Supper Club.
https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details?id=AQAAAEA0ym6KSM&hl=en-CA&gl=ca

Will you be a part of it?

When: Mon. September 30th 5:30-7:30

Where: 1444 Union Ave. Montreal, Qc. H3A2B8

Neil Mancor has some Stewardship tips for you!

September is a great time to plan and prepare a Fall Stewardship Campaign.

You may be falling behind financially after the long summer, but with a new season comes new plans and programmes at your Church. So it is an opportune moment to tell a good news story about all the things your Church is doing and invite the support of your congregation in both energy and finances.

The core of a stewardship campaign is communicating your financial position clearly and helping your congregation make the link to their individual level of support. Key tools can be a narrative budget, pledge forms and an invitation that makes the case for supporting your church. Think about ways to make financial generosity easier and automatic: introduce PAR Pre-authorized remittance or even Push Pay app-based giving.

Above all: tell the story of your community of faith and invite the support of your congregation.

Bishop's Message (from Anglican Montreal September Issue)

General Synod is the legislative body of the Anglican Church of Canada, which meets every three years, with representatives from each diocese. Just as there are varieties of interests, opinions, strengths and needs in our own diocese, so there are in the Anglican Church of Canada.

Not everyone sees eye to eye on every topic that is brought up for discussion and that can cause hurt on different sides of the topic. This was the case this summer at General Synod, with the vote to amend the Canon on Marriage in the Church. Whereas many dioceses were ready to be inclusive of same-gender marriage, not everyone – and especially not all bishops – could support it. Change happens slowly and not all dioceses – or parishes – are ready for this change. Sadly, the news headlines made our church look cruel and unwelcoming.

Conflict and disagreement have always been part of our church history. So has a shared sense of God’s call. General Synod affirmed that we are determined to find a way to walk together respectfully and to continue to be the church and assume good faith even if we disagree. Here is an excerpt from my Charge to Diocesan Synod:

“Our Diocese is called to grow in partnership and love with one another as we work through our own changing times and conditions. Instead of competing with each other, I believe that we are to share our strengths and gifts and faith with one another and consider how we can serve the mission of the church more creatively and faithfully.” (Bishop’s Charge to Diocesan Synod 2019)

How do we want our church and our congregations to appear? What message do we want to give to those around us? What can we agree on and focus on?

The second letter to the Corinthians, chapter 4 describes some very discouraging conditions in the early Church. It also offers a helpful perspective: “But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.” 2 Cor. 4:7

The mission of the church and our attitude in any difficulty ought to be focussed “so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving to the glory of God”. 2 Cor. 4:15

There is still work to be done as our Anglican Church of Canada grows and goes forward in this century.

One of my priorities is that the Anglican Diocese of Montreal continue to work to be a welcoming and affirming place for all. Another is that we grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. Growing, and being disciples, inevitably involves change and disagreement. I invite all of us to do that respectfully, praying blessings on those with whom we find ourselves in disagreement, and assuming that each of us is doing our best to listen to the Spirit.

Every blessing,

+Mary

EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT! OUR FALL ISSUE OF THE ANGLICAN MONTREAL IS HOT OFF THE PRESSES!

Read the September issue HERE

NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES in The Anglican Diocese of Montreal

• The Parish of St. Barnabas, St-Lambert is seeking potential candidates who may feel called to participate in God’s work with us as incumbent

• St. George’s Church in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue in the Diocese of Montreal is searching for its next incumbent.

• St. Barnabas Anglican Church in Pierrefonds, Quebec, is searching for its next incumbent.

Downtown Cathedral announces new associate priest

Montreal, 7 August 2019 – Christ Church Cathedral has announced that the Rev’d Dr Deborah Meister is to be its next Associate Priest.  She will work with the Dean, the Very Rev’d Bertrand Olivier, and the pastoral team, to support and develop the Cathedral’s many pastoral and liturgical ministries.

A Harvard graduate, Deborah was awarded a PhD in English literature from UCLA, and subsequently a Master of Divinity from Berkley Divinity School at Yale.  She comes to the Cathedral with significant ministry experience built up in a number of eastern US parishes, from Birmingham, AL to Washington DC, and most recently Glastonbury, CT.  

Deborah is passionate about adult formation, having developed and taught her own programme combining spiritual development with practical life application.  She also has a heart for the plight of the urban poor.  

Says Dean Olivier: ‘Deborah joins the team at Christ Church Cathedral at a particularly exciting time for our community.  We are in the midst of a restoration project, which continues apace, requiring much energy.  However, we are also seeing God at work in our community, with increased interest in our progressive and inclusive theology as well as our various ministries and outreach programs.  The skills, professionalism and deep grounded faith that Deborah brings will be invaluable to the continued life of the Cathedral and of our many communities.

Says Dr Meister: ‘I am delighted to be joining the staff of Christ Church Cathedral. I  admire the Cathedral's commitment to being both an artistic and spiritual home for the people of Montreal and an oasis of compassion and safety for those in need, and I look forward to deepening our engagement with God and with one another as we serve Christ together.

Deborah will be installed at the 10.30 Sung Eucharist on Sunday 15 September 2019.

Situated on St Catherine St, deep in the heart of Downtown Montreal, Christ Church Cathedral is the mother church of the Anglican Diocese of Montreal.  Steeped in the Anglican tradition, It is known for the quality of its music, and is the base of many ministries and outreach activities. It actively seeks to serve Anglophones and Francophones, young and old, of all socio-economic backgrounds, genders and sexualities.  We are an open and inclusive congregation. 
All are welcome at Christ Church Cathedral.

For further information:
The Very Rev’d Bertrand Olivier – bertrand.olivier@montrealcathedral.ca  -- 514-212-5053

An Invitation from the Dean...

An invitation from the Dean of Cathédrale Christ Church Cathedral, Montréal , Bertrand Olivier

The Pride Mass Planning Team would like to invite you all to be a part of the Pride Mass this year, which will take place on August 11th at 4 pm at Christ Church Cathedral.
We are inviting clergy and lay readers of the diocese to be part of the procession and to come and stand round the altar during the Eucharistic prayer, so that we show a real presence of the church of God committed to celebrate and continue to work for full inclusion. 
If you would like to take part, please email dean@montrealcathedral.ca, so that we can ensure sufficient seating etc.
Dress is white alb with colourful stoles – the main altar party will wear pink - and it would seem appropriate to wear all colours of the liturgical rainbow, which liturgically would bring together both pain, joy and the sheer ordinariness of inclusion in God’s kingdom.
Opportunity for Singers
As well as involving as many clergy as possible, we are keen to invite musicians from churches in the city and the diocese to sing alongside our own cathedral choir as part of the celebration. Rehearsal time on the day will be limited, so a good level of sight-reading would be necessary to ensure that participants don't feel left out. Obviously a singing congregation is just as appreciated as a choir. If you are interested in taking part then please contact our Director of Music jonathan.white@montrealcathedral.ca for more information on how you can get involved.
And of course we will be delighted to welcome as many of the members of your congregation that wish to celebrate with us. The Choeur Gai de Montréal - Montréal Gay Men's Chorus will sing on the forecourt before and after the celebration, and there will be ice cream surprises!

What is the Pride Mass?
An annual mass that is committed to celebrating and honouring the LGBTQ+ community with a dedicated worship service during Pride week in Montreal.
Bilingual event graphics are available for your communications. We would appreciate if you would pass on this invitation to your parishes etc. Include the link and graphics in your newsletters and bulletins, etc. 
The Pride Mass is a joyful, healing, prayerful opportunity for allies and members of the LGBTQ+ community to share in their faith together.
Thank you for your support,
Bertrand
Dean of Montreal
and
The Pride Mass Planning Team
(Wendy, Jonathan, Jean-Daniel, Joseph, Noah and Lee-Ann)

L'équipe de planification vous invite chaleureusement à participer à la Messe de la Fierté cette année , qui aura lieu le 11 août à 16h à la cathédrale Christ Church.
Nous invitons le clergé et les lecteurs laïcs du diocèse à participer à la procession et à venir se tenir autour de l'autel pendant la prière eucharistique, afin de montrer une présence réelle de l'Église de Dieu engagée à célébrer et continuer à travailler pour la pleine inclusion.
Si vous souhaitez y participer, veuillez envoyer un courriel à dean@montrealcathedral.ca , afin que nous puissions vous assurer des places assises, etc.
Apportez une aube blanche avec une étole de couleur appropriée - les célébrants principaux porteront des vêtements liturgiques roses - et il semblerait approprié de porter toutes les couleurs de l'arc-en-ciel liturgique, qui symbolisera à la fois la douleur, la joie et aussi la banalité de l'inclusion dans le Royaume de Dieu. Nous vous demandons d’arriver pour 15h30.
Opportunités pour chanteurs
En plus d'impliquer le plus grand nombre possible de membres du clergé, nous tenons à inviter les chanteurs des paroisses de la ville et du diocèse à chanter aux côtés de notre propre chœur dans le cadre de cette célébration. Le temps de répétition de la journée sera limité, de sorte qu'un bon niveau de lecture à vue est nécessaire pour que les participants ne se sentent pas à l'écart. Évidemment, une congrégation qui chante est aussi appréciée qu'un chœur. Si vous êtes intéressé à y participer, veuillez communiquer avec notre directeur de musique (jonathan.white@montrealcathedral.ca) pour obtenir de plus amples renseignements sur la façon dont vous pouvez participer.
Et bien sûr, nous serons ravis d'accueillir autant de membres de votre congrégation qui souhaitent célébrer avec nous. Le Choeur Gai de Montréal chantera sur le parvis avant et après la célébration, et il y aura des surprises de crème glacée.
Qu'est-ce que la messe de la fierté ?
Une messe annuelle qui s'engage à célébrer et à honorer la communauté LGBTQ2S+ par un service de louange dédié pendant la semaine de la fierté à Montréal..
Suivez notre événement sur Facebook pour en savoir plus et rester connecté...
Nous avons inclus les graphiques bilingues de l'événement pour vos communications. Nous vous serions reconnaissants de bien vouloir transmettre cette invitation à vos paroisses. Inclure le lien et les graphiques dans vos bulletins d'information etc.
La messe de la fierté est une occasion de prière joyeuse et libératrice pour les alliés et les membres de la communauté LGBTQ+ de partager leur foi ensemble.
Merci de votre soutien,
Bertrand
Doyen de Montréal
et
L'équipe de planification de la messe de la Fierté
(Wendy, Jonathan, Jean-Daniel, Joseph, Noah et Lee-Ann)

"Do I have to Preach again?" Revitalizing Your Preaching Clergy Conference 2019

Register by September 4th.

Registrations should be sent to: clergyconferencereg@montreal.anglican.ca or by calling Sandra Koukou directly at Synod Office at (514) 843-6577 ext 248.

Please don’t forget to answer the questions about arrival/departure and dietary restrictions.

Linda Nicholls elected primate→

For the first time, the Anglican Church has elected a woman as primate. Read more from the Anglican Journal.

Live Feed to General Synod

To find out what’s happening at General Synod in real time! click here.