This Sunday we celebrate the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Please join us for in-person worship! Holy Eucharist (BCP) begins at 8:30 am, and Sung Eucharist (BAS) at 10:30 am. Our preacher will be Dean Beth Bretzlaff. 

This Sunday is the first of our choir term and the first opportunity for one of our small ensembles of Lay Clerks to sing in service. This week a quartet comprised of Shannon Mercer, Rob Mann, Christian Damus and Gary Dahl are on duty under the direction of ADoM Andrew McAnerney. Service music is by Harold Darke with gradual anthem and communion motet by Vaughan Williams and Farrant, respectively. Organ voluntaries come from the Third Symphonie of C.M. Widor and are played by DoM James Calkin. Forthcoming services will be sung by: Men's Voices (19 Sept), SATB quartet (26 Sept) and the Girls' Choir (Oct 3).

For those of you who are not joining us in-person this weekend, please CLICK HERE to join the live-stream Sunday at 10:30. 

CLICK HERE to open your Order of Service for the 8:30 Holy Eucharist (BCP)

CLICK HERE to open your Order of Service for the 10:30 Sung Eucharist (BAS).

In this week's COVID Communique, the Bishop confirmed that although the vaccine certificate system is operating in Quebec and will soon be adopted in Ontario, neither province requires double-vaccination for those attending places of worship.

So that all may be welcome to worship, protocols in the Yellow stage of our diocesan plan are being observed so the wearing of masks, use of hand sanitizer and physical distancing at all times indoors remain required. In addition, all greeters, choir members and communion administrators are expected to be double-vaccinated (if eligible). As well, all of our Cathedral's clergy and staff are double-vaccinated. We look forward to seeing you!

Last spring, the Bishop launched the Shape of Parish Ministry Consultation (SPMC) with the following words: What are the shapes of parish ministry that God is calling our diocese to explore? What dreams would God have us dream together? Where is God calling us to be, and where are we called to invest the resources which have been entrusted to us? These are important questions, and we are seeking to answer them together, as a Bishop working with his clergy and people, through a process of gathering and sharing information, conversation, prayer, and collaborative decision-making.

We are currently in the first stage of the process, and, along with all the parishes in the Diocese, have been asked to answer five questions. This is an opportunity to reflect on our ministry over the past few years (including pre-COVID) and to discern what our future might hold. And now it is your turn to answer the following:

1.  What is the single most important thing that the diocese should know about our parish/congregation?

2.  What are the parish's ministry priorities, and how are these priorities lived out in our decisions and activities and the use of our resources?

3.  In what ways does our parish/congregation serve the wider community? How are we engaged with the local community beyond our walls - outreach, events, partnerships?

4.  What are the challenges to accomplishing the work we’ve identified above, in terms of finances, building status and human resources?

5.  Are there ministry opportunities that we are aware of but not involved in? What would we need to engage in them?

There are several ways to share your input:

On Zoom: A one-hour Zoom will be held on Wednesday, September 22nd at 7 pm. Please email Jane Morris (janedougmorris@gmail.com) to receive the Zoom link.

In Person: Two one-hour sessions will be held on Sunday, September 26th, at 9.30 and 11.45 am. Please register here for these sessions, as you would a worship service.

By Email: Email your responses to the questions to Jane Morris by end of day, Sunday, September 26th.

By Phone: If you, or someone you know, would prefer to speak to someone over the phone, please contact Jane Morris to arrange a call (before Monday, September 27th)

Our Cathedral representatives will be interviewed by members of the SPMC Team on October 5th. Your participation will guide and feature at that interview, so please do contribute!

Thank you for your input and participation in this important work. Please contact Jane Morris if you have further questions.

As we approach the coming federal election we remind you that the foyer and Great Hall will be transformed to serve the community as the poll location for Advance polls (Friday September 10-Monday September 13) and again on Election Day, Monday September 20. We appreciate your patience next Sunday as we work to manage the polling location through the Sunday morning services. 

For those with questions about how to cast your ballot in this time of new guidelines, you may choose to vote by mail, at your riding office any day from now until the election, at Advance polls or on Election Day. Please feel free to contact the office if you have questions about our role in this year's federal election.

In July we presented this unique project created by one of the choristers in our Cathedral Girls' Choir. This lovely initiative was the created by Aleesha Katary with her friend, Ally Guo as a way to bring high school students together with seniors in the community.

Music for Seniors offers virtual concerts and this month they are pleased to offer the 7th in the series. 

Our Cathedral Team has been busy walking, biking, kayaking, gardening, etc. with the goal of raising $2,500 for the “Light for Every Birth” project, which provides solar suitcases to health clinics in Mozambique, allowing for safer births at night, in areas without power. A matching grant doubles the efforts. Click here to learn more about this project.

Please sponsor their efforts! And if you have questions or comments, please email them to info@ottawacathedral.ca

The Cathedral YouTube channel is your go-to location for all live-streamed services and a number of other saved treasures for you. If you are interested in following the live-streamed services and/or want to revisit some of them at a later time, they are all here for you. Find us anytime at  https://www.youtube.com/c/christchurchcathedralottawa

To find us easily any time, subscribe to the channel. Call the cathedral office if you have questions or need assistance. We look forward to meeting you there.

Readings for Next Sunday
17th Sunday after Pentecost, September 19th 2021
Proverbs 31:10-31; Psalm 1; James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a; Mark 9:30-37

Questions?

For more information on anything in this newsletter or if you are in need of pastoral care or other assistance,
please contact us by calling 613.236.9149 or emailing info@ottawacathedral.ca.