“I really wasn’t sure what to expect when I took it on,” says Hamilton. “At first we had…what, three guides? Then we were lucky enough to get two more and then including [Claire], it was six”. These numbers made the scheduling a lot easier this year. Says Hamilton, “Having the benefit of three extra guides made things a lot easier, and changing the format [helped].” This change in format was the decision to open later in the day enabling more people to visit the building in the evening, especially on days when the pedestrian mall is particularly busy. When it comes to the guides’ work, Hamilton describes it as being the church’s welcome committee. “They welcome visitors into the church, and show them around if they wish—give them some basic information on the church, and answer any questions that come up”. The job also has a cleaning aspect. “Also the presentation of the church—making sure things are tidy and well kept,” says Hamilton.

As for the students themselves, there are five who worked in the building: Eric Steele, Shelby Marshall, Michael Steckley (not interviewed), Liam Butler, and Blaine Pretty. They all had their own interests in the work, their own specialties, and their own favourite parts. When they weren’t making bunny ears or faces behind each other’s heads, they talked at length about their interest in the building, education, and community.

When asked what drew them to apply to be a tour guide, responses varied. Some, like Shelby, Liam and Eric, were already working as musicians in the Cathedral quartet due to their love of music, and were interested in learning more about the history and design of the building. Others, like Blaine, appreciated the opportunities that came with a job that was full of history. “I would choose this job over another job because it gave me an opportunity to one: learn something new, and two: I get to share that new knowledge with other people,” says Pretty, which everyone immediately agreed with. Shelby concurs, saying “I’m excited about [the visitors’] interest in something I’ve put a lot of time into learning”.

This question was followed by a similar one, “What’s your favourite part of working here?”. Again, the responses were varied. Eric Steele enjoys telling people about the stained glass. Liam Butler enjoys talking about the organ, because “I find most of the time when people come in they are taken aback by [it]”. Personally, I’ve always enjoyed shocking people with fun facts and weird information about the building, while Shelby really enjoys learning about the use of music in the church.

Finally, when questioned about some atypical aspects of their job, responses were fairly cheeky, which I suppose is justified. “It’s a building that’s cold, downtown” says Marshall, while Pretty chimes in with “Our uniforms [purple academic gowns] are certainly atypical”. Marshall also described the atypical way that the tour guides could learn from each other. “Listening to anyone else give a tour, they always touch on different stuff than I do, or that I don’t know”.

After all of this, the importance of the summer tour guide positions as a way to engage youth and a very important part of the modern day church culture is plain to see. The Cathedral is very fortunate to have gotten so many positions this year, to the point that the program could even be expanded, including a virtual position where tour information was put on YouTube and Facebook for the public all around the world to enjoy (my position!). Although the tour guiding season is done for the year and the guides are no longer working in the building, their impact and work will continue to have an impact on the Cathedral well into the fall. Our tour program is a very important part of our outreach and ministry, and every student adds more fascination, interest, and heart to our building.

The post How Youth Are Changing The Face of The Cathedral in St. John’s appeared first on Anglican Life.

“In my curation of what we do…how does the opportunity to sit in the silence or in darkness…how does that slow us down to take time to sit and listen?” asked Buley. The art of silence, of presence in our minds and ourselves, is quite the lost art in modern society, long since replaced by the art of doing what we are told. Our Sundays@Seven seek to do the opposite. Buley said, “This is a sense of spirituality to find its own way, without being told that now you’re gonna have a spiritual encounter.”

As for the impression Buley hopes his services have, he hopes for immersion. “I guess one thing is an opportunity to immerse ourselves in different musics that perhaps would be more challenging at the 11am service…it’s an opportunity to just experience things and then say ‘oh that’s another piece of God’s grandeur, another piece of creation, another piece of this world.’” Our 11am service, for context, is the sung Eucharist from the Books of Common Prayer and Common Praise, including spoken and sung prayer with lessons, a sermon, and communion. He believes musical spirituality can help us access that higher knowledge and closeness with religion without disputing what the Anglican faith believes, and can help individuals improve their connections with God, the world, and each other.

Next I met with Susan Cummings, regional manager in pastoral care, ethics and bereavement services with Eastern Health, as well as the person largely responsible for the installation of the Cathedral’s outdoor labyrinth. When I asked her about the purpose of the labyrinth, her response was quite interesting. “I wish we knew! I mean, labyrinths are at least 3, 4000 years old…and of course all that history is shrouded in mystery.” Labyrinths have been assigned many different purposes, from a representation of great odysseys in classical Greece to a representation of religious pilgrimage in Christianity in the middle ages. Contrary to mazes and other puzzles, the labyrinth is a straightforward design with one entrance and exit, meaning it requires no problem solving. Cummings said, “the only decision that you have to make is whether or not you want to walk”.

Because of this open-ended design, the modern day uses of the labyrinth are as unique as those who choose to walk it. “What draws us, I guess, is key to answering [what are some uses of the labyrinth]…there’s such a thing as a labyrinth practice…it’s like a mandala, a pattern for our own life’s journey.” The labyrinth helps separate past, present and future by encouraging its walkers to live in the present moment; the present thought. “It’s an intuitive practice, really,” said Cummings, “Reasons are as many as there are individuals. What would draw us, you know?”

Because of this open-ended use, the question of what impact a labyrinth could have on personal spirituality became inadvertently biased. To remedy this, Susan Cummings reached out to several friends who walked labyrinths frequently and asked them about the labyrinth’s impact on their personal spirituality. Answers were widely varied and individual. The included Holly, who said that the imagery of the labyrinth has “captured her imagination,” and that she employs the labyrinth to help her “get in touch with her truth.” Bernadine said that the labyrinth enables her to feel “refreshed and [with] a better outlook on…life.” Joan said that the labyrinth causes “a sense of problem solving [to arise],” which enables “a deeper connection with all.” Finally,  Robyn said, “meeting the labyrinth was like meeting a new friend,” and that in the labyrinth she “felt both free and held.” It’s plain to see that the labyrinth means so many things to many different people, and can help people heal and learn in a variety of different ways.

Both the Sundays@Seven and the labyrinth are fantastic ways to increase spiritual closeness and relationships with God. Both offer opportunities to deepen personal connection with the personal spirit and with God as well, in ways more personal and less technical than a traditional Eucharist. There are still many other different ways to strengthen spirituality, so do what is best for you!

The post Spirituality—How Anglicans Can Connect With God in Different Ways appeared first on Anglican Life.

“I look at the options that we have…for having diversity of experience, of worship and meditation; they’re designed to be kind of open ended” says Buley when asked of the designs of the Sundays@Seven performances. Wait, performances? “People can approach that in their own way,” Buley says. The services can be considered performances, services, even something different, and have been created to fill a spiritual void in the community. They’re a service for people who have interest in worship that’s a little different from the standard Sunday morning service

As for the content in these services, it varies! Everything from Taize-style meditation, to traditional evensong services and compline, to vespers and jazz vespers services, and more! Every type of service has its own distinct style and tone, and they’re all different, so there is certainly something for everyone. As for picking a favourite? “Oh my dear, [laughs] I don’t think I can. Frankly Claire, I think they all have their own kind of flavour,” Buley laughs.

This year, there will hopefully be some new services! Buley has been in conversation with Deantha Edmunds about a project for spring 2022: “A great piece in Lent…It’s a piece called The Confession Stone by Robert Fleming…it’s a cycle of songs from the point of view of Mary [Jesus’ mother]”. Additionally, many of the services from past Sundays@Seven will be returning. How exciting!

As for turnout and impact? “It’s a small crowd who attend but those who do, really appreciate it,” Buley says. He hopes that Sundays@Seven has touched those who have attended, and will continue to do so. Sundays@Seven returns this fall, which is sure to be full of fascinating Sunday evening services! The fall program will of course include services seen in previous years, as well as some never-before-seen experiences like The Confession Stone! Make sure to check them out at the Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Sundays at 7pm of course! It’s clear they’re going to be something you won’t want to miss.

The post The 7pm Spectacular appeared first on Anglican Life.

“We came together about seven or eight years ago…I sort of came up with an idea that, on Fridays, we would get a group of people together and we would start hiking,” says Halley of the group’s origins almost a decade ago. “As we started chatting, and Patricia came on board, we sort of came with, ‘you know, let’s start talking about wellness…how we [can] get more well every day.’” The program’s focus began to shift, thanks to a survey of members that expressed interest in gardening and healthy cooking. It was from there that Waddleton, a dietician with Eastern Health, came in. “We started out with six garden beds; it went on to another 8…and this year we have this beautiful greenhouse, so it has evolved over the past three years,” says Waddleton, gesturing at the beautiful open greenhouse on the cathedral green space, surrounded by seven-foot sunflowers. This shift in the group’s focus couldn’t have come at a better time, says Waddleton. “We noticed over the past couple years, especially between Snowmaggedon and now COVID, how it’s important to have our own food source,” she says. Demonstrating how it’s possible to grow your own produce here in Newfoundland is a first essential step in sharing this information.

Participant input has also added a new element to the group: cooking! Chris Kelsey has encouraged and shown the group how to make salads with the home grown produce. “We had mixed greens mostly, some cucumber and yellow tomato, and some zucchini,” explains Kelsey. All fresh produce, grown mere feet from the cathedral. One thing that’s particularly interesting about this garden? It’s neither locked, nor exclusive to the program! “Food security is important, but everybody should have access to fresh, tasty vegetables, and oftentimes people do not, and that’s just unacceptable, I think,” says Halley. Thus, anyone can follow the greenhouse sign’s instructions: Take what you need and leave the rest.

Wellness program responsibilities can often be fairly regular, with weekly or even daily tasks. “The group gets together usually on Friday afternoons; daily [responsibilities are] taking care of the plants, a bit of weeding, and watering everyday,” says Kelsey. He and Butler are at the community garden every day taking care of these tasks. Besides this, the group provides activities like yoga, mindfulness, walking the labyrinth, snowshoeing, and more!

Finally, I’m sure you’re curious about the community garden’s fare. Well, it varies! Lettuce, eggplant, broccoli, carrot, potato, corn, squash, green onion, kale, garlic, spinach, cucumbers, zucchini, strawberries, snow peas, tomatoes, nasturtiums (edible flowers), and more! I was lucky enough to get to try a nasturtium, green pepper, and tomato, and they were all absolutely delicious! Rest assured that if you visit the community garden, you’ll leave well fed!

As you can see, this is an incredible program and initiative that the cathedral has supported. I’m sure it will continue to grow as it has  in recent years, and will continue to do an incredible job of educating and offering opportunities to the people of Newfoundland. These outreach services are an incredible way of helping the community, and are so much fun!

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