In our Parish Cycle of Prayer we pray for Sister Heather Broadwell; Don Brown; the Right Reverend Dr. Terry Brown; Bruce Burbidge & Diana Burt.

In our Community and Partners Prayer Cycle we pray for Hamilton Detention Centre.

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer we pray for the Anglican Church of Rwanda.

In the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada we pray for The Director and staff of General Synod Communications and Information Resources; Amal Attia, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer and the staff of Financial Management and Administration; Trina Gallop Blank, Assistant to the (Lutheran) National Bishop, Communications and Resource Generation, and the staff of Communications.

In our Diocese of Niagara we pray for our Bishop, the Right Reverend Susan Bell; and for St. Mark’s, Niagara-on-the Lake, the Reverend Leighton Lee, Rector, and the people of that parish.

As a community we pray for refugees and those displaced by war, violence and politics.

Those who have asked to be remembered in our prayers: With ongoing needs Celina Liong; Ernie Taylor; Susan Andrews; Cathy Johnston; Larry Andrews; Susan Worrall; John; Wayne & Michelle; Helen; Lisa LaRush; Rachel & James; Adam Pearce; With current needs Heather Clark; Judy Robertson; Dawn Romig, Erin Cvitanovich; Alex & Emma Gilling; The Reverend Charles Meeks; Hazel.

Those preparing for baptism Riley Robinson; Irannah Tumwesigye.

Those who have recently died Antonio Biasutti; Mark Lemon; Giles Gilling.

Flower Dedication for the Christmas flowers is listed in full in this week’s Bulletin.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 31 - FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS

10:00am - Choral Eucharist in person and on the

Cathedral's YouTube channel

DECEMBER 31 10:00am ORDER OF SERVICE

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 3

12:15pm - Holy Eucharist in person

FRIDAY JANUARY 5

12:15pm - Litany of Reconciliation in Bishopsgate

SUNDAY JANUARY 7 - FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY

8:30am - Holy Eucharist in person

10:30am - Choral Eucharist with Baptism in person and on YouTube

As the end of the year approaches, we thank our parishioners and friends for your amazing generosity and support.

We also take this opportunity to remind you that in order to be eligible for a 2023 tax receipt, your donation must be received at the Cathedral or post-marked by  December 31st.  Thank you and happy new year!

Thank you so much for your cards, gifts and well-wishes this Christmas season. We are and feel truly blessed to be sharing the journey together with you.

A blessed, joy-filled and holy 2024 to you all.

Felicity, Sophie, Lynn and Tim

Training sessions will be offered on Sundays following the coffee hour as follows:

* January 14 for Communion Ministers

* February 4 for Intercessors

Please come along if you would like to prepare to exercise one of these ministries, or for a refresher.

The Bishop's Christmas Message can be viewed on YouTube by clicking HERE.

During this year's Advent season of expectation, the theme is PEACE. As our world faces wars, natural disasters, and food insecurity, the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund's mission statement of “working towards a truly just, healthy, and peaceful world” is more challenging than ever before. In the Ukraine and Israeli conflicts, the humanitarian toll and massive damage to infrastructure and equipment is catastrophic and unimaginable. In places such as Tanzania, South Africa, and South Sudan, climate change has caused drought and food insecurity, and worldwide gender-based disparities in many countries have limited women from reaching their full potential. The Primate's World Relief and Development Fund has been there, continuing to provide assistance and relief through its variety of fundraising campaigns - the “Wild Ride” and the “World of Gifts” being just two examples.

The Wild Ride

This year, the Wild Ride campaign raised over $60,000, surpassing its goal of $50,000. These funds will support PWRDF partners who serve refugees and displaced people worldwide. Our own “Cathedral Crusaders” team walked for this worthwhile cause and raised approximately $3,000. Congratulations, Cathedral Crusaders!

The World of Gifts

The World of Gifts is an ongoing campaign that enables us to support PWRDF's partners by funding items of need for their programs. We are encouraged to choose items from the catalogue to become gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, or any other special event. This year, Bishop Susan is challenging the Diocese of Niagara parishes to support this campaign by collectively purchasing thirty farms. Each farm costs $615 and supports nine food security projects in eight different countries. If each parish purchases some items on the list, or even a whole farm, the goal can be reached. A “Diocese of Niagara crowdfunding page” has been created to track the donations to this Advent Challenge. Let's make this goal a reality!

If donating online, please CLICK HERE

If sending in a cheque to PWRDF, please identify 'Diocese of Niagara Advent Challenge' on the memo line.

For assistance, please contact your PWRDF Parish Representative, Louise van Woelderen, by email at louise.vanwoelderen@gmail.com or telephone (905)387-1820. Prayerfully consider how YOU can support PWRDF in its vision towards a truly just, healthy, and peaceful world.

Loving God, we pray for the work of The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund. Give PWRDF and the people who depend on its support, the courage and strength to persevere in these uncertain times. Be with them in the challenges they are facing, and hold us to our vision for a truly just, healthy, and peaceful world. In the name of your child, Jesus. Amen. (taken from Anglican Diocese of Edmonton prayers)

Every Step Counts!

December Climate Action Reflection

How did you do with this month's Cathedral Climate Action? Did you buy less?  Did you shop second hand, shop locally, repurpose or regift?

If so, talk with God about how you could maintain or grow some of these habits in the coming year.

If not, talk with God about how you might begin today decreasing the number of new things you buy, even a little bit, because every step counts!

Stay tuned for next month's climate action from Climate Justice Cathedral!

A prayer for creation from PWRDF

God, we praise you and we praise your creation. We give thanks for our lives on this Earth. We lament the harm we have caused. We ask for your forgiveness for our indifference. Grant us the courage and the strength to do hard things, that our children and grandchildren will have the opportunity to witness the beauty of all of your glorious Creation. Amen.

Vestry Reports

Looking ahead, the annual Vestry Meeting will be taking place early in the New Year, on Sunday February 18, 2024. Please submit any material for the Vestry Report by Friday January 26 to the Parish Coordinator at cathedral.admin@niagaraanglican.ca. Many thanks!

We are very excited to announce that as part of the City of Hamilton’s Winter Response, Christ’s Church Cathedral, in partnership with St. Matthews House, Hamilton Out of the Cold, and 541 Eatery & Exchange is offering a daily drop in, Monday to Saturday, between the hours of 9 am to 4 pm from December 1 to March 31, 2024.  

The Cathedral Café is a warming and resting centre for "street-involved" and precariously housed individuals in our community.  The Cathedral Café will expand its operations from a totally volunteer run ministry to that of one with paid social work staff and coordinator augmented by a team of volunteers.  We are seeking  more volunteers for the Cathedral Café under the new model as the continuity of this ministry is critical.    

Volunteers are needed to fill the the 3 shifts per day Monday to Saturday: 

• 8:30 am to 11:30 am
• 11:30 am to 2:00 pm
• 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm

 High-level expectations of volunteers are to:

• Greet and welcome guests
• Organize food, drinks, and other supplies and present guests with refreshments
• Prepare refreshments, as required
• Wash dishes, as required
• Verbally interact with guests in safe, respectful and caring manner
• Refer guests to on-site social worker, as needed
• Distributes naloxone kits to guests upon request
• Sanitize/disinfect table used by each guest
• Disinfect refreshment table/kitchen frequently
• Monitor washroom
• Monitor and report to Centre Coordinator adequacy of supplies and/or additional support for guests. 

For full details, please refer to the full Cathedral Café Volunteer Position Description.

If you or someone you know are at all inclined to help as an on-site volunteer, please complete the Volunteer Declaration form and/or connect with Kerry Lubrick at kerryllubrick@gmail.com or call 905-679-2818.

If you need to contact clergy in an emergency between Tuesday January 2 and Saturday January 6, please call 905.865.9977. Until January 1 and from January 7 onwards, please use the usual number 365.324.4503.

WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!

At the back of the Cathedral there is a Tap donation device.  You can use your debit or credit card to "tap" and donate $5 to Christ's Church Cathedral.  If you wish to donate more, you can tap up to four times!  Your generosity is appreciated as it allows us to continue to maintain our beautiful facilities and offer innovative ministry to our community.  Thank you!

Please forward items for the Chronicle by 1:00pm on the Wednesday prior to publication to the Parish Coordinator at cathedral.admin@niagaraanglican.ca or 905-527-1316 ext 240.