In our Parish Cycle of Prayer we pray for Stan and Lynda Raike, Z and Anne Rajic, Geoffrey and Charlotte Read, Mark and Caren Ritchie, Judith Robertson, Randall Robertson, Cerena Robertson, Valery Rodney and Diana Rousseau.

In our Community and Partners Prayer Cycle we pray for Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters (HATS)  https://hamiltontinyshelters.ca/

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer we pray for the Church of the Province of Uganda.

In the Anglican, Lutheran, and Moravian Full Communion Cycle of Prayer we pray for the Rt. Rev. Christopher Harper, National Indigenous Anglican Archbishop, and the staff of Indigenous Ministries; the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples; Dawn Maracle, Indigenous Justice Animator, And we pray for Carmen Ramirez, Assistant to the Lutheran National Bishop of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; and Peter Wall, Assistant to the National Bishop for Worship,  And we pray for the Rev. Melissa Johnson, president of the Eastern District Executive Board of the Moravian Church Northern Province.

In our Diocese of Niagara we pray for our Bishop Susan Bell; Christ Church & St. John the Evangelist, Dunnville, the Reverend Canon Richard Moorse, Priest-in-Charge, and the people of that parish.

As a Community we pray for the isolated, the lonely and those mourning or remembering the death of family and friends and those who help, support, counsel and care for them.

Those who have asked to be remembered in our prayers: With ongoing needs: Larry Andrews; Susan Worrall; Cathy Johnston; Helen; Rachel and James; the Reverend Charles Meeks; Charlotte Read; Judi Mansfield-Jones; Brandon; Kelley; Michael; Mark and all affected by the fire at Charred Rotisserie; Millie; Dave; Ezra Noble; Heather Clark; John Ellis; and Brenda Catterson.

With current needs: Susan Andrews; Ann Turner; Sarah, Jeremy and family; Bishop Ralph; Martha Rose; Barry Jefferies; Donelle de Vlaming; Allen Calvin and family; Jane; Jonathan James; Joan Gilvear; Sean; the Reverend Jann Brooks; Hazel Naylor and family; Charlotte; James Warner; Bonnie Lawlor; Wayne and Michelle.      

We pray for those preparing for Baptism: Brenda Catterson; and Ezra Noble.

Those who have recently died: Dane McDowell; and Joanne Roxbourgh.

Flower Dedications: given to the Glory of God and in loving memory Suzanne and Gérard Simon given by Anne Harvey, Peter Wall and Paula Esteves.

The emergency on call clergy contact number is 365-324-4503

A Blesséd and peace-filled Christmastide to you all.

Thank you, dear friends, for your thoughtful gifts, cards, and good tidings.

Love Tim, Lynn, Sophie and Felicity.

Sunday December 22
Fourth Sunday of Advent 
8:30am - Holy Eucharist in person
A Festival Of Lessons and Carols
10:30am - in person and on the Cathedral's YouTube channel
Click here for the Order of Service

Tuesday December 24
Christmas Eve Family Eucharist & Creche Blessing Eucharist
4:30pm - in person
Midnight Christmas Eve Service
10:00pm - in person
Music Prelude with strings & soloists - 9:30pm

Wednesday December 25
The Feast of The Birth of Our Lord Christmas Day Eucharist
10:00am - in person

Sunday December 29
First Sunday After Christmas Eucharist
Choral Eucharist 10:00am - in person 

Wednesday January 1, 2025
The Naming of Jesus Eucharist 
11:30 am -  in person 

Johann Sebastian Bach composed the Christmas Oratorio for the Christmas period of 1734. It is comprised of six cantatas, each of which were meant to be performed on a different feast day. The oratorio is comprised of gospel narratives sung as recitatives, virtuosic vocal arias, instrumental interludes, and chorales which were sung by the entire congregation. Those chorales were often based on Lutheran hymn tunes of Bach’s era, though usually not from his own pen. This evening’s presentation features music from the first four cantatas, focusing on the birth of Jesus, the adoration of the shepherds, and the naming of Jesus. Soloists from the Cathedral choir will be accompanied by strings and organ.

Dale Guenter shared the need for us to increase our donations to help fund the salary for a half-time Curate (currently Rev. Monica). 
As our Cathedral grows and offers a variety of programs to meet the needs of our community, this second clergy position is of utmost importance. This is not a one time ask, but rather we are hoping that all parishioners will find a way to permanently (or at least for five years) increase their yearly donations. Even when Monica is given her own church to pastor, the need for a second clergyperson will remain at CCC. We were all invited to "Help Build the Cathedral of the Future".

A number of parishioners responded to Dale, asking how they could pledge an increase in their giving for 2025.  Intention forms are being released early to help parishioners who want to make their pledge now. 
2025 Intention Forms are available on the literature rack in the narthex.  If you would like to declare your intention to increase your givings in 2025, please complete the form and drop it in the offering plate or deliver it to the Parish Office to the attention of "Paula Esteves".

We are so thankful for the generosity in our wonderful Cathedral family!

We are pleased to advise that our numbered donation envelopes for 2025 will be ready for pick-up some time in December or early January.

For those who are currently using numbered envelopes:

• If you wish to continue using numbered envelopes, no action is required on your part. 
• If  you have decided not to use numbered envelopes in 2025, please let us know.  For instance, if you have signed up for Pre-Authorized Givings or are regularly using Interac e-transfers, chances are you will not need numbered envelopes.

For those who are not using numbered envelopes, Interac e-transfers, or pre-authorized givings , you will find numbered envelopes easier and efficient.  Please let Karen, our Parish Assistant, know, and we will assign an envelope # to you.

If you'd like to know more about how numbered envelopes work, please do not hesitate to email the Cathedral Office or call 905-527-1316 x240.

Please Note:  Unused envelopes from 2024 or prior years cannot be used in 2025 or later years.  Unused envelopes must be shredded.  Thank you!

Grateful thanks for the many Christmas Memorial Flower donation envelopes received.
Your loved one’s names will appear in the Bulletin over Christmas week.

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 2024 tax receipt, your donation must be received at the Cathedral or post-marked by  December 31st. 

Thank you and happy new year!

This Christmas, reduce your carbon footprint!

• Buy fewer items, shop locally, shop second-hand, and repair if you can.
• Focus on re-purposing, re-gifting, or re-homing.
• Make charitable "in honour" gifts such as Alongside Hope’s World of Gifts. 
• Stimulate the economy where you live.

 Why?  For the impact on plastics alone!

• 3 billion tonnes of plastic have been manufactured since the 1950s!
• Every single piece of plastic ever made still exists, and will continue existing for at least 500 years!
• 60% of all the plastic ever produced now lies discarded in landfill, the oceans, or as litter!
• Share our concern for the integrity of creation!

 With data from Greenpeace

With Canada Post having resumed their operation on December 17^th, 2024, you still have time to make a year-end donation and receive a 2024 tax receipt! PWDRF has faced significant challenges due to the recent strike, resulting in a substantial decline in donations. Please consider mailing your cheque today or donating online. Your contribution, no matter the size, makes a world of difference!

Thank you for your contributions. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

If you have any questions regarding Alongside Hope (formerly PWDRF) please email Inez.  Thank you.

Thank you parishioners and friends!  

We are pleased to report that we have a full slate of volunteers for the Cathedral Café Christmas Dinner.  Details below:

• 40 to serve and clean:  15 in the Cathedral for the waiting and dessert area and 25 in the Café to serve dinner and clean.
• Over 14 people to provide desserts.
• 2 volunteers from St. Matthews to greet guests and give out Christmas gifts.
• Tammy, our security guard
• Drew, our cleaner
• 2 (Andrew & Gwen) to play music.

That's a total of 60+ volunteers, not including the number of cooks preparing the meal!

Your generosity, care, and service is truly appreciated at this busy time of the year.

Blessings to all!

Next year we will be looking at Paul’s letters to the Church in Rome. Come join the discussion! Sundays at 12:15 pm in the Spence Room.
Staring again Sunday January 5, 2025

All are welcome!

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

Study the Bible in community through this drop-in participant-focused method of reading scripture together. 
Discovery Bible Study is designed to meet the spiritual needs of our participants
by considering what the biblical text tells us about God and human beings.  You'll find us in the nave on Thursdays.  All welcome!

Here at Christ’s Church Cathedral we care about every member of our parish community and highly value the kind donations of our parishioners time, money and skills.
We continue to take extra steps to ensure that you are better protected against cybercrime scammers and we would like to share the following information with you to ensure that you are a step ahead of those ‘smart scammers’ whose goals include obtaining your trust, money, and personal information, which could be traded, revealed, or used to perpetrate more cybercrime.
Please look at the advice on website links below taken from the Cybersecurity Ontario.ca website showing best practices on how to avoid cybercrime; what to do if you are suspicious of an email; and how to Check URLs and email addresses before clicking!
So, be aware of unsolicited phone calls, text or email messages from individuals or institutions asking for information, money, or even asking you to reply in haste to an urgent request. Use the contact information from previous exchanges or a secure website to confirm the authenticity of an unsolicited message. Do not provide personal, or sensitive information about yourself until you are certain of a person’s identity and their authority to have the information, and stay safe! https://www.ontario.ca/page/cyber-security                                              
https://cybersecurityontario.ca/mod/page/view.php?id=225&lang=en

Please remember to wear your name badges.
The red boxes are full of tags and resources. Let Karen know if you need more supplies or if you need new tags printed.  Thank you!

Please forward items for the Chronicle by 1:00pm on the Wednesday prior to publication to the Cathedral Parish Office, 905-527-1316 x240.The Cathedral Office will be closed from  December 21 to January 1 inclusive.
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you, and all those you hold dear, from the Cathedral Team.

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. Please note that Tap donations are not eligible for tax receipts.  Thank you!