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St. Cuthbert Anglican Church | "Growing, Knowing & Sharing God's Love" | |
St. Cuthbert's, here is your weekly focus on things that are
happening in the parish. Read and stay connected.
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When the Congregation Sings
It’s not just a Sunday morning thing to sing hymns of praise and worship before the Holy One. Singing is significant portion of our worship, perhaps 25%-30% of a service will be sung. We often sing hymns of praise and worship when we gather in small groups to pray, study passages of scripture, or come together for fellowship. These are all times when we open our storehouse of hymns, often tell others about our favourites because of the stories the song tells, the reflections on aspects of faith or Bible passages, and sometimes it may be the tune itself. I have had people say to me, ‘The words are powerful, but the tune is so dreary, it makes it hard to sing.’ Other times people might say, ‘Well it’s a great tune but it’s theologically sketchy, why are we singing this?’ When we are gathered, we all have to live with, and work with what is before us. When we sing our favourite hymn of a Sunday, it might even make our day. When we sing a hymn far from being our favourite, we may try to remember that it is the favourite of someone in the gathering. Over the years I have heard it all, likes and dislikes, with lots of advice given about ‘these are the hymns we like to sing here’. I have always kept that in mind. It is said that many congregations will have about 200 or so hymns that are sung on a very regular basis. There is a sort of series of concentric circles of hymns from the best know and best loved to the lesser known and least cared for right out to the far reaches where someone once said to me, ‘what planet did that come from.’ Our tastes and our forms of expression of our faith in singing our hymns is quite broad, as broad as all our experiences and so, to find hymns that suit us all is an near impossible task. In the generosity of each of us, we know that being a part of a faith family, like any family, there is give and take. We can’t have all our own favourites every week.
Any group of ‘hymn pickers’ may prefer to keep their involvement secret just to avoid the criticisms that may come. But when those who are choosing the hymns put their personal wants and desires aside, and keep before them the scriptures, the needs and focus of the particular gathering, what hymns are known and those less known, the hymns add a beauty to the flow of our worship and tie the various parts together. It is not an easy task.
When people sing, when we sing, our emotions are brought to the surface, there are vibrations that resonate within us. We easily tune our voices together when we have accompaniment, of course. When the intro to the music begins, we ready our voice to blend with others in a very natural way. When we know a hymn in the depths of our soul, many of us can easily harmonize and add a further edge to what we are singing. It is truly amazing how we can become one voice.
The Gospel of Matthew (26:30) tells us when Jesus and the disciples had finished the Passover meal, ‘when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.’ It is probably Psalm 118 that they sung, a perfect conclusion to one of the most holy days of the Jewish faith. I wonder how their voices blended and what the emotions were amongst them as they remembered what God, the Holy One had done for them and wondered what would happen next with Jesus.
My hope is that when we sing our closing hymn each Sunday, that we all may wonder what will happen next with Jesus as we go out into the world to live our fait, individually and as a church community.
Sometimes our singing needs help, especially for hymns that we have not sung in a long time or the hymn is still fairly new to us. To this end, from next week there will be a small bit added to the ‘Future Focus’ that will list the hymns for the forthcoming Sunday. Each of the hymns will have a link to a website where you can listen to the hymn being sung, mostly in a congregational way. The words are usually in the video. We can thereby ready ourselves for Sunday worship to join our voices and sing our hearts out to the Lord.
With grace and peace, Rev. Stephen Laskey
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Spontaneous Memories
Last Sunday, after attending the wonderful service dedicated to display the talents and lessons learnt at Day camp, some of the youth counsellors requested to have an impromptu hangout after church.
I, pleasantly surprised by their ask, agreed.
As a group we set up tables, chairs and the projector to sing karaoke and share a meal.
This goes to show the bond our youth parishioners are growing with one another, and it fills my heart to witness it.
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Heads Up for Events in August!
- August 23rd: Youth Sunday
In the upcoming week I will be making my way to contact parents and guardians regarding the Youth Sunday service and possible roles your children/grandchildren would be interested in.
- August 27-31st: The DYM Artaban Retreat.
Among the many engaging, interesting and fun activities at Artaban, Jet Takaoka will also be a guest speaker at the event. As this year's theme is "Until All Are Fed," we will be learning about social justice and food security.
Follow this link to sign up and find more details! Bursaries are available for those interested.
- A family-youth outing to the beach. Location and date TBD.
For more information reach out: Youthleader@stcuthbert.ca
— Rainoa Lonogan
| Children's Ministries Focus |
Summer Children's Ministry
This year, we are excited to introduce a Summer Children's Ministry Program - Children Chapel during the Sunday service.
We recognize that the summer months can present unique challenges for families, particularly when Church School is not in session. Our goal is to continue supporting children and parents throughout the summer by providing an engaging, age-appropriate ministry experience for children.
Children from ages 4–12 will have opportunities to participate in activities and discussions tailored to their age groups while remaining connected to the life of the Church. Through Bible stories, discussion, prayer, worship, and age-appropriate teaching, children will explore the same themes and messages being shared during the service, allowing families to continue meaningful faith conversations together at home.
At the same time, parents and caregivers will be able to participate more fully in worship, knowing their children are being cared for and nurtured in a safe and welcoming environment.
Our Nursery Ministry will continue to operate throughout the summer for our youngest parishioners.
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A Call for Volunteers
As we look ahead to the 2026/2027 Church School year, we are prayerfully seeking additional volunteers to join our Children's Ministry team.
One of the greatest gifts we can offer our children is the gift of faith. Whether you have experience teaching, assisting with crafts, helping with administration, supporting special events, or simply building relationships with children, there is a place for you in this Ministry.
You do not need to be a theologian or an experienced teacher to make a difference. Sometimes the most impactful ministry comes through a caring presence, a listening ear, and a willingness to walk alongside our children as they grow in their faith.
If you have ever considered becoming involved in Children's Ministry, we encourage you to prayerfully explore this opportunity. By volunteering, you will help create a welcoming environment where children can encounter God's love, ask questions, develop friendships, and grow into the leaders God is calling them to be.
If you would like to learn more or are interested in serving during the 2026/2027 ministry year, please contact, Director of Children's Formation. This is not a rush decision, but we will appreciate if we can get responses to enable us plan and be well positioned for the next year.
Together, let us continue building a strong foundation of faith for the next generation.
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Confirmation
St. Cuthbert Anglican Church is pleased to announce that we are preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation scheduled for December 2026.
Confirmation is an important step in the Christian journey, where individuals publicly affirm their faith, deepen their relationship with God, and strengthen their commitment to life within the Church community.
We are currently seeking children and youth who may be interested in preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Preparation classes will provide opportunities for participants to:
- grow in their understanding of the Christian faith,
- learn more deeply about the Anglican tradition and sacraments,
- ask questions and explore their faith,
- and develop spiritually within a supportive church community.
Parents and guardians who are interested in having their child participate are encouraged to express interest or reach out for additional information regarding eligibility, class schedules, and preparation timelines.
We look forward to walking alongside our children and youth as they continue growing in faith, leadership, and discipleship.
For additional information or to register interest, please contact the Children’s Ministry Team or speak with church leadership.
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Sunday School and Nursery
At St. Cuthbert Anglican Church, we are passionate about nurturing children and youth in faith and creating a welcoming environment for families to grow spiritually together.
We are blessed to have ongoing children and youth formation opportunities within the parish, including:
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The Sunday School is closed for the summer, however, we have the Children's Chapel open for Children between 4-12 years (Kindly refer to Summer Children's Ministry for more information).
- A functioning nursery available during services, providing parents with a safe, caring, and supportive space for younger children while families participate in worship with peace of mind.
Our desire is to continue building a strong, vibrant, and Christ-centered children’s ministry where every child feels welcomed, supported, encouraged, and connected within the life of the Church.
We warmly welcome families to participate and grow alongside us in faith and community.
Obie,
Director Children Formation
For more information, contact: obiea@stcuthbert.ca
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Thursday Communion Service
August 13 at 10:00 am
Jeremy Taylor, Bishop of Down & Connor 1667
Readings:
James 2:14-26; Psalm 119:1-8; Matthew 5:17-20
| | Committees & Ministries Spotlight Months Focus | |
August
Worship, Outreach & Welfare Committee
WOW
| | Committees & Ministries Focus | |
...........Bereavement & Resilience Group meets twice a month, on the second and fourth Tuesdays. This ministry is still downloading. We have not yet set the start date. We will let you know as soon as we have set the date. | | Thanks to Fraser Health, Barb Steele asked for more material from the immensely popular session on My Greensleeve and we got these extra material. If you need some for yourself please get in touch with Rev. Monte (revmonte@stcuthbert.ca). | | |
Our AuraCast System Is Up & Running!
Let's use it!
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It has been a week now since, Jinx finished connecting and making live "St. Cuthbert Auracast 1" system. We have the following four ways to get connected whenever we come into the sanctuary for a service:
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Those with AuraCast enabled hearing aids that has an app on their phone, you can now connect directly after finding "St. Cuthbert Auracast 1" system.
- For others with old-fashioned hearing aids, you can connect using a loop connected to any one of these connection units - we have four units and only two neck loops.
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For those without hearing aids, you can connect to "St. Cuthbert Auracast 1" using any of these four connection units plus a headphone - we have four headphones.
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Alternatively you can order your own Auracast-enabled headphones that can connect directly to "St. Cuthbert Auracast 1" You can get these headphones off Amazon which you can get by clicking here Venucast Aria Aura - Auracast Headset. These are only $139
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We only have 4 connection units, and these will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis. We plan to get more units as demand dictates. Our advice is that it would be more hygienic if people bring their own headphones with jacks to use with the four connection units. PLEASE make sure you return the connection units after use. The connection units live at the back of the church by the entrance. Ask a member of the AV team for one when you need to use one in the sanctuary.
We are really grateful to Jinx, for getting this connected up and running.
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Getting Ready Survey
As we need to know more from those who are going to use this system we would like to know the needs of those who will be using it. Please let us know by downloading and then filling in this: Listening Needs Survey
Please place the filled-out survey in the pocket sleeve by Rev. Monte's office.
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Getting Connected Guides
Below, please click the link to get instructions on how to connect to our AuraCast System with your own brand of hearing aids:
- Jabra Hearing Aids
- Octicon Hearing Aids
- Philips Hearing Aids
- Starkey Hearing Aids
If you are encountering challenges with your app for connecting to AuraCast, please also get in touch with your service provider for remedial tips. In the meantime, we also have scheduled a Hearing Aid Specialist from "Hearing Life" to come in late September during Senior Formations time, and give a talk to us on different hearing aids and how they can be used with our system.
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Digital Sign Update
We await the City's response to our digital sign permit application.
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Our Mission Statement
“To seek and encourage growth as a Christ–Centred community, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to know God and to make God known
in word and deed.”
| | Community ~ Connection ~ Communication ~ Continuity ~ Compassion | | | | |
