WEEKLY PRAYER CYCLE

In our Parish Cycle of Prayer we pray for Catherine Chomba; Jasmine Christiansen & Michael Hobbins; Heather Clark; Sheila Clark; Paul Clifford.

In our Community and Partners Prayer Cycle we pray for Hamilton General Hospital.

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer we pray for the Church of South India.

In the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada we pray for The Rev. Dr. Eileen Scully, Director, and the staff of Faith, Worship, and Ministry; Bishop Michael Pryse, the people and rostered ministers of the Lutheran Eastern Synod; the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the ecumenical work and witness of our churches.

In our Diocese of Niagara we pray for our Bishop, The Right Reverend Susan Bell; and for St. Mark, Orangeville, The Venerable Peter Scott, Rector; The Reverend Deacon Richard Beaudoin, Deacon; The Reverend Canon Lynne Thackwray, Honorary Assistant; The Reverend Canon Stephanie Pellow, Honorary Assistant, 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; Sally Braun-Jackson; Winnie Braun; Judy Robertson; With current needs Heather Clark; Dawn Romig; The Reverend Charles Meeks; Richard Cunningham; Mary Lambie.

Those recently baptized Irannah Tumwesigye.

Those preparing for baptism Riley Robinson.

Those who have recently died Cathy Cooper; Antonio Biasutti.

Sunday January 21 - Third Sunday after Epiphany 

10:30am - Choral Eucharist in person and on the Cathedral's YouTube channel

Click here for the Order of Service

Wednesday January 24

12:15pm - Holy Eucharist in person

Friday January 26

12:15pm - Litany of Reconciliation in Bishopsgate

Sunday January 28 - Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

8:30am - Holy Eucharist in person

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

Come explore the stories and wisdom the Scriptures contain.  Join us if you know a lot or just a little. This week we continue exploring the Book of Exodus.

Sunday from 12:15-1:15pm in the Spence Room.  All are welcome!

For further information, please feel free to contact Matthew Green at 905-865-9863.

Our doors will open this Sunday January 21, from 12:30-2:00pm, for anyone to come and enjoy some quiet space in our busy city.  There will be a short service of Evening Prayer at 1:45. Light a candle, say a prayer, or just sit quietly in this beautiful space.

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

* January 28 for Altar Servers

* February 4 for Intercessors

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

King Charles III is coming for dinner!  What shall we serve?  Shall we go out and purchase the best meats, dairy, and produce that money can buy?  Or, will we rummage about in the freezer and cobble together a meal with leftovers?

While the situation as described above might seem ridiculous, in reality it illustrates our two approaches to giving back to God.  Do we set a budget based on our household income and expenses, giving back to God the small amount that is left over?  Or, do we honour God with the first fruits of our finances, giving to him first and then determining our expenses?

The Bible teaches us to “Honour the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce;  then your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will be bursting with wine.” (Proverbs 3:9,10).  When we dig deep and give to God, our sacrifice is always honoured.

The church is not immune to inflationary pressures.  When considering how much to give back to God in 2024, remember that the inflation rate in 2023 was over 4%.  Our parish revenue will need to increase by at least 4% if we are to maintain our current level of ministry.  In fact, an even greater increase will be required as cost savings and special one-time gifts enjoyed at CCC during the 2023 are not likely to be repeated.

As we work through the “Reflection Exercise” and complete the “2024 Intention Form,” let’s approach what we give as first fruits, not leftovers.  Let’s not give back to God grudgingly, but embrace our tithes and offerings as an exciting opportunity to join in God’s ministry here on earth!

Tax receipts for donations made in 2023 were sent by mail on January 11, 2024.  We are sincerely grateful to all of our parishioners and friends who continue to support the work of the Cathedral in so many ways.

Should you have any questions or concerns about your receipt, please contact our Donations Administrator  or our Parish Coordinator. 

The annual Vestry Meeting is on Sunday February 18 after the 10:30 service. Please submit items for the Vestry Report by this Friday January 26 to the Parish Coordinator. Many thanks!

Thank you for your ongoing support of the Cathedral Café. This ministry has expanded significantly since December 1, 2023 when we partnered with St. Matthews House to operate six days per week, seven hours per day.

In the month of December 2023:

• We were opened 24 days/166 hours
• We welcomed a total of 2,210 guests: 78% of the guests are men, 52% identify as homeless
• We now have 80 individuals on our volunteer team. 35 received orientations in December.  We are still seeking more volunteers as we require 18 volunteers per day.
• There are seven full time staff (supervisor, kitchen manager, outreach staff and cleaner) from St. Matthews House and one security guard

Staff have arranged for additional on-site services:

• Monday: Indigenous Health Bus (De dwa da dehs nye>s)
• Wednesdays: HepCURE mobile unit
• Thursdays: SPCA (pet care/food)
• Friday: Good Shepherd Health on Wheels
• Saturdays: Hamilton Out of the Cold distributes meals from Christ’s Church Cathedral; our guests receive a meal as they exit at 4 pm

Social Navigators, Outreach Teams and Public Health Nurses visit the Cathedral Café regularly.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent, a period during which we reflect on our mortality and show repentence for our sins .  The services offered on Ash Wednesday include a Eucharist and the imposition of ashes, often accompanied by the words Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.  The ashes  are prepared by burning palm leaves from the previous year's Palm Sunday celebrations.   

The Cathedral offers two services on Ash Wednesday, a said Eucharist at 12:15pm and a Choral Eucharist at 7:00pm.  Please join us.

The Rev. Canon Ian Mobsby will help us grow in loving our neighbourhood through teachings and interactive experiences. 

The program kicks of with Cathedral Chat on February 21 on the theme of housing solutions.

A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Jenny Street will be held in the Cathedral at 11:00am on Saturday January 27.  Jenny was a long time, faithful parishioner of this Cathedral who died during COVID so we were unable to hold a public service.  Jenny was one of the people instrumental in establishing Maker's Market, a venue for local artists to display and sell their work.  Jenny was a strong and tireless advocate for those in our community and city who were disadvantaged in any way.  Please join us as we mark the life of this remarkable person who contributed tirelessly to our outreach work here at the Cathedral.  A light reception will follow the service.

Health and well-being – without one, the other simply isn’t possible. Likewise, the well-being of humans isn’t possible without a healthy planet; something we are discovering every day as we face a growing global climate crisis.

This theme is at the centre of PWRDF’s 2024 Lent Resource.

Throughout the Lenten season, beginning on February 14^th, receive a daily email with a reflection from Dr. Sylvia Keesmaat, on what health, well-being and good living require of us in our lives and our relationships with one another, with creation and with God.

Click HERE to receive daily reflections beginning February 14!

Thanks, as always, for your continued support of PWRDF and its partners.

For information on ways to support PWRDF, please visit This Page or contact your Parish PWRDF Representative Louise van Woelderen (905-387-1820).

January’s Action

Switch to a Credit Union! Move your money away from the five major Canadian banks.

Why? Canadian banks invest billions in the fossil fuel industry. In 2022, they invested over $137 billion of our money! *

Impact? If we cut off their funding and tell them why, we can hold the banks accountable for their promises to protect the environment.

*From CBC’s The Current: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/canadian-banks-fossil-fuels-1.6814560#

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 x240.