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But it was no ordinary upstairs-downstairs Sunday.  Instead, in her December 15th post after the service, the Dean wrote, “When the organist calls 90 minutes before worship is scheduled and says it is 5 degrees in the church, you wonder what you will do. Thanks to the huge propane stove and a heater downstairs, we could quickly take the chill off the hall. The decision was made to pull out the downstairs piano, move everything needed for worship into the hall (the Advent wreath, the communion elements, service books, etc) that had been set for our annual Mingle and Jingle and rejoice! The furnace repairman arrived just before 10, did a quick fix so the Arthur & Eileen Churchill Hall began to warm up just about as quickly as our hearts!”

“Seventy-four people enjoyed worship in a way that many said was reminiscent of days gone by. Once our souls were nourished a few quick changes were made once again and the hot soup, sandwiches, and desserts appeared to nourish our bodies.”

The Dean began her post, saying,” The spirit and the joy of Gaudete Sunday was alive this morning.” She ended with the comment, “My heart is filled with the joy and willingness to adapt that I experienced this morning.”  And one respondent posted, “That’s what community looks like and how real community acts! Gaudete, indeed!”

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Many participants came on behalf of others. Carolyn brought her neighbour’s dog, as she walks the dog daily because the neighbour is unable to do so. Debbie brought her daughter’s Canadian sphinx cat, as her daughter is attending university elsewhere. Lily left her dog at home because he is “too rambunctious” for this sort of gathering, but she played her flute while other participants had their animals blessed.

Others brought their own pets, some from a great distance. Debbie, a Corner Brook resident, brought Lola, who is just recovering from leg surgery. One couple, however, came all the way from Springdale because there was no Blessing of the Animals service nearer to their home—almost 180 km from Corner Brook—and they wanted their dog blessed.

While animals brought to the service were all animal companions, the prayers read by Dean Catherine Short reminded participants of a broader range of animals and their carers: animals trained in search and rescue; animals assisting those who are hearing or visually impaired; also veterinarians, and people who provide safety and shelter to injured or homeless animals.

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At the reception after the morning Eucharist, the girls expressed their appreciation for what they had learned from Fr. Lynn Braye their liturgical coach, Doreen Klassen their organist/pianist/choirmaster, and the late Dr. Jennifer Matthews their vocal coach, who first proposed the founding of a choral scholars programme at the cathedral. The girls also expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and continuing support they had received from the congregation.

Since its inception in 2020-2021, the Choral Scholars Programme has incorporated eight young people  of Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Baptist backgrounds into its musical ministry, for varying lengths of time. Consequently, young people who rarely attended church growing up started participating in as many as 50 services annually, and often brought their families with them. For Charlotte and Maria, this led to a decision to be confirmed, and, as Bishop John Organ noted, by their own choice, to become disciples of Christ.

In his message to the scholars, Bishop John expressed his heartfelt gratitude for their service to Christ and his Church through their gift of music, and encouraged them to continue doing so throughout their studies and, indeed, their whole lives.

It was quite fitting that the girls ended their celebratory Sunday with the calming quietness of a Choral Evensong that concluded with the well-known hymn “The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, is Ended” and “Deep Peace,” a sung benediction by John Rutter.

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Participants heard about the faith journeys of three Palestinian Christians from three generations: Eleanor, whose grandfather established St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church in the Holy Land in the early 19th century; Lina, whose aunt, a Palestinian Christian Al Jazeera journalist, had been killed May 11, 2022; and, Sara, who was raised in Jerusalem and became the first woman ordained as a Lutheran pastor.

As they related their faith journeys, each woman shared what it means to be a Palestinian Christian. Eleanor related how her Arabic teacher encouraged her as an 11-year-old to run errands for humanitarian work. This became the foundation for a lifetime of humanitarian and development work for all people, regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender, status or need. Lina spoke of her Aunt Shireen’s commitment to telling the stories of both Muslims and Christians and also to campaigning for all to have access to their holy sites. Sara talked of her grandparents growing up in Jaffa alongside Christians, Muslims and Jews before the establishment of the Israeli state in 1948. All three were affected by the loss of their homeland in 1948, yet persisted in showing love and offering hope to all.

As he began his reflection, Bishop John Organ stated that the Jerusalem cross he was wearing has a dove on it, as Palestinian Christians, and Anglican Palestinians/Israeli Arab Anglicans in particular, value and ensure they gather in Jerusalem on Pentecost, as Arabs are listed as being present at the First Pentecost (Acts 2:11)

Having spent three years as the Bishop’s Chaplain in Jerusalem (2012-2015), Bishop John reminded listeners how complex the situation in the Holy Land is when he said, “If you spend one week in the Holy Land, you can write a book. If you spend a month in the Holy Land, you can write an article. If you stay longer, you learn to be silent.”

To shed light on this situation, Bishop John used the analogy of two sons, loved equally by their parents, at odds with each other, yet trying to live together in the same house. Gradually, one side takes more of the house and outsiders support one side or the other. And when some give up on peace, and resort to violence, everyone on their side is labelled a terrorist. Yet others, like the three Palestinian Christian women whose stories were told, continue to work for peace for all.

The prayer that opened this gathering asks God to walk with us as we journey through the land where you lived and taught, to open our eyes to see the present suffering of the inhabitants of this land, and, to grant us the strength and courage to act and pray with all who suffer around the world. May we live that prayer.

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As part of its outreach in the summer of 2023, the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist opened its doors to visitors for all of the 35 cruises with more than 800 passengers between June 30 and November 3.

During the Thanksgiving weekend, Corner Brook received two extra cruise ships due to inclement weather in the ships’ intended routes. And on Thanksgiving Monday, over 1,000 people visited the Cathedral, which seats a mere 400!

There is no charge for visiting the Cathedral, but visitors donated over $2,700 in appreciation. Many treasured singing or listening to their favourite hymns as Ida Stone played the Casavant organ. German visitors in particular enjoyed hearing “Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken,” sung to the tune of the German national anthem. 

All appreciated the warm welcome and many commented on the inclusivity banner, with its reminder to show kindness to all God’s children.

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