Chronicle for December 21, 2025
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Weekly Prayer Cycle and News from CCC

Christ's Church Cathedral
Chronicle for December 21, 2025

WELCOME to Christ’s Church Cathedral

Thank you for joining us as we worship together.

‘Sharing God's loving transformation of our lives with our neighbourhood, the diocese and the world through inspiring worship and music, spiritual formation and leadership development, compassionate service and advocacy alongside our neighbours, and a warm and inclusive hospitality.’
We are a sacred oasis in the heart of the city.

Emergency on-call clergy

Emergency on call clergy: Dean Tim 365-324-4503 will be on call Dec 21, through to Dec 28, and Sunday Jan 4.
Rev. Monica 905-865-9977 will be on call Dec 29-Jan 3. 

Cathedral Worship

Cathedral Worship

Sunday December 21
8:30am - Holy Eucharist in person

10:30am - Festival of Lessons & Carols in person and on YouTube
Order of Service

Cathedral Worship - This coming week

Tuesday December 23
8:30am - Morning Prayer in person

Wednesday December 24
8:30am - Morning Prayer on Zoom

4:30pm  - Christmas Eve Family Eucharist Service
with Blessing of the Creche in person

9:30pm - Music for Voices & Strings

10:00pm - Christmas Eve Choral Eucharist

Thursday December 25
10:00am - Christmas Day Sung Eucharist in person

Friday December 26
No Litany of Reconciliation in Bishopsgate today

Sunday December 28
No 8:30am - Holy Eucharist today

10:00am - Choral Eucharist
 in person and on YouTube

Please note: Smoking is not permitted anywhere on Cathedral Property. Thank you.

Weekly Prayer Cycle

In our Parish Cycle of Prayer we pray for Elizabeth, Cairney, and James McRae; Karen and Michael Methot and family; Yvonne Mills; Chaplain Monoja, Celina Liong and family.

In our Community and Partners Prayer Cycle we pray for Hamilton Tiny Shelters

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer we pray for the Anglican Church of Burundi.

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 the Indigenous Ministries; the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples; and Dawn Maracle, the Indigenous Justice Animator; we pray for Carmen Ramirez, Assistant to the Lutheran National Bishop, for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; Peter Wall, Assistant to the National Lutheran Bishop for Worship; and we pray for the Rev. Sue Keonig, Director, and team of the Moravian Northern Province of Racial Justice and Healing.

In our Diocese of Niagara we pray for our Bishop Susan Bell; Archbishop Colin Johnson; St. Paul, Jarvis, the Reverend Canon Richard Moorse, Rector; and the people of that parish.

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

Those who have asked to be remembered in our prayers: With ongoing needs: Bishop Ralph; Susan Andrews; Larry Andrews; Susan Worrall; Cathy Johnston; Helen; the Reverend Charles Meeks; Brandon; Harold Percy; Michael; Millie; Ezra Noble; John Ellis; Brenda Catterson; Allen Calvin; Bonnie Lawlor; Donelle de Vlaming; Eldra Gittens; Bill and Joan Gilvear; Anne-Louise and John Watts; Barry Jefferies; McKay family; Cathy Kendall; Jean Livingstone; Kristen; and Charlotte.

With current needs: Jonathan James; Kelley and Barb; Turner, Janel Shaw, and Kathy Drury; Judith Robertson; Belinda Whitehall; the Mitchell family; Margaret Griffin; Stephanie MacLeod; Margaret Beale; Deborah Kempe; Mary Anne; Allan; Andrew; Willow; Baby Snow; Brad; Donna Tank and family; Laurie Johnston and family; Valerie Rodney; Angela Hemming; Margaret Kittle; Heather Clark; Shirley; Yvonne Mills; Janet Wude; CC; Tyler; Celina Liong and family; Kim; Laura and family; Holly, Jamie, Emily and their families.                                                                                                                                                

Those that have recently died: Ida Consoli; Ronald Crawford; and Ursula Bennett.

Message from the Dean

Thank you so much for the Christmas cards, gifts and well-wishes you have shared with us. We are so thankful for your kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity.
We feel so blessed to be celebrating Christmas with you, and we are looking forward to another banner year together.
A blessed, peace-filled and holy Christmastide to you all.
Love Felicity, Sophie, Lynn and Tim.

 

A Festival of Lessons & Carols

A Festival of Lessons & Carols

Sunday, December 21, 2025 10:30am

This is the first service dedicated to the Christmas season at the Cathedral.  In lieu of our regular Sunday Choral Eucharist, we offer today a service of Lessons and Carols, traditionally celebrated as we approach Christmas.  

From a historical perspective, the Festival of Lessons and Carols is a relatively "modern" service as it was introduced in the late 19th Century.  It consists of nine readings with hymns and carols sung intermittently, and it is wonderful!  Please join us.

Note:  We invite you to stay for coffee and "Christmas Cookie Exchange".  

To see our complete Christmas Celebration schedule, pleas visit Christmas 2025. 

Christmas Cookie Exchange

Christmas Cookie Exchange

Following our Lessons and Carols service on Sunday Dec 21, we will be holding a Christmas Cookie Exchange. Everyone is invited to simply make or purchase one large batch – 2 ½ to 3 dozen – of your favourite Christmas cookies to share.   

Goodies containing nuts and gluten must be labelled please! Gluten-Free cookies welcome too!

We will put all the cookies out at Coffee Hour and not only will we get to enjoy an extravaganza of cookies that day, we will also be able to each take home a dozen or two of different Christmas cookies for the holidays.  Take away bags will be provided!

Image by Cathy S from Pixabay
Family Eucharist & Crèche Blessing

Family Eucharist & Crèche Blessing

Wednesday, December 24, 2025 4:30pm

It has been a long-standing tradition at the Cathedral to offer a special Christmas service geared especially, but not exclusively, for families with young children.  This is a relaxed, very informal, educational, and dare I say fun service for all in attendance.  There is no sermon at this service, but there is a fun, interactive telling of the Christmas story.

Before the service, the elements of the crèche are scattered throughout the Cathedral.  After the telling of the Christmas story, the children are invited to go on a pilgrimage in search of the crèche elements.  Once found, the children build the crèche scene in the Cathedral.

Please join us!

Please visit our full schedule of services for Christmas 2025 at the Cathedral.  

Christmas Eve Service

Christmas Eve Service

Music Prelude followed by Choral Eucharist - Wednesday, December 24, 2025 9:30pm

This year, we will once again have a prelude to the service of "Music for Voices and Strings" starting at 9:30pm followed by our Christmas Eve Choral Eucharist at 10:00pm.  All are welcome to this glorious celebration of the birth of Christ! !

We invite you to review our complete service schedule for Christmas 2025. 

Christmas Memorial Flowers

Christmas Memorial Flowers

Many thanks for your kind donations toward this year's Cathedral Christmas flowers! 
The names of your loved ones will appear in the Bulletin over Christmas week. The Cathedral will again be resplendent in beautiful arrangements.
Thank you to our Altar Guild for dedicating their time and skills over this last year. 

Christmas Celebrations 2025

Christmas Celebrations 2025

The First Sunday after Christmas

The First Sunday after Christmas

Choral Eucharist - Sunday, December 28, 2025 10:00am

The Christmas season is 12 days long (hence the popular song The Twelve Days of Christmas).  Come and continue the celebration of Christ’s birth at this Sunday service where we will hear more about Joseph and Mary’s story of courage and perseverance.  All are welcome.

Please join our Christmas 2025 Season celebrations!

 

*Text assisted by Smart(GPT) 
The Litany of Reconciliation

The Litany of Reconciliation

Please join us. Fridays 12:15 -12:30 pm

As a member of the Community of the Cross of Nails, we gather weekly at noon on Fridays to pray for peace, justice, and reconciliation.   We start our prayer with:

We stand together at this Friday noon hour to join with all those churches, schools, and other institutions who have committed themselves to the Community of the Cross of Nails. We search for reconciliation between ourselves and all those who have been harmed by war, by violence, by the effects of colonization and abuses of power, and by greed, selfishness, thoughtlessness and indifference.

Please click on Litany of Reconciliation for the prayer in its entirety.

A brief history of  the Litany of Reconciliation can be found on The Anglican Diocese of Ontario website.

Please note: No Litany of Reconciliation on Dec 26, or Jan 2.

Discovery Bible Study

Discovery Bible Study

No Discovery Bible Study Thurs Dec 25, or Jan 1.

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 at 11:30am.  All are welcome!

Christmas Contact

Christmas Contact

We are delighted to provide you with the link to access  the Christmas 2025 edition as well as previous editions of our quarterly publication. 

Christmas Cards and Visual Guides - Last chance!

Christmas Cards and Visual Guides - Last chance!

Christmas Cards, Anglican Church Calendars, and Visual Guides-On sale December 21.

We shall be selling the 2026 Canadian Anglican Church Calendars ($10.00), along with Christmas Cards that use Nativity scenes from our beautiful stained-glass Cathedral windows. We started to produce Christmas Cards in 2008 so that you can have religious scenes and a card that uses the word “Christmas” rather than “Happy Holidays”.  We still use the 2008 price of $1.25 per card - what a bargain! 

We shall also be selling A Visual Guide to Christ’s Church Cathedral, Hamilton, Ontario for $10.00.  Copies can also be purchased any Sunday from Sandy Darling. 
They make a good Christmas present for relatives, friends or former parishioners.

MANY THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST AND SUPPORT!

*Photos:   Alexander Darling ©
New Diocesan Services Greeters Team

New Diocesan Services Greeters Team

Are you friendly? Would you like meet new people and hear different speakers from across the diocese?
We are looking for a small team of six to eight people for our new Diocesan Services Greeters Team for the six diocesan services of 2026: Sundays Jan 18, May 24, Jun 7, Oct 18, Nov 15 & Nov 22, all at 4 pm.
If you can commit to at least four of the six services, we’d love to have you on the Team!
Contact the Cathedral Office.

 

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Our handmade prayer shawls have been and blessed and are available for the congregation to give to SOMEONE THAT NEEDS A HUG FROM GOD……is sick, grieving, sad, or whatever their need.
Available through the week via the Cathedral office or on Sunday mornings see Madge Passmore.

Tax Receipt Deadline

Tax Receipt Deadline

With Our Sincere Thanks

As we reach the end of 2025, we respectfully  remind all our donors that donations intended for the 2025 tax year must be post-marked or hand-delivered to the Cathedral no later than December 31.

On behalf of the Cathedral, we wish to extend our gratitude to all of our donors, volunteers, supporters, and community partners.   We could not have the variety and quality of ministries or the reach that impact so many in our community without you.  God bless you!

Thank you and Happy New Year!

 

Planned Giving

Planned Giving

Another Way to Give

Planned Giving refers to a direction in your will to donate a gift from your estate to a charitable or non-profit organization.  The gift can be cash, property, securities, or a percentage of your estate and frequently has the benefit of reducing your estate's tax liability.  This is a good opportunity to leave a legacy at no immediate cost to you. 

For more details please refer to the article What is Planned Giving?

If you are interested in learning more about including Christ's Church Cathedral in your will, please contact our Parish Treasurer, J. Lefebvre, to discuss next steps. 

For details on other ways to give, please visit our web page Give.

December's Climate Justice Action

December's Climate Justice Action

Reduce, Reuse, Repair and Recycle

December’s Action

Buy fewer items, shop locally, shop second-hand, repair what you can! Focus on repurposing, regifting, or rehoming.  Also consider making charitable “in honour” gifts,  e.g. Alongside Hope World of Gifts!

Why?

Electronics, clothes, plastics and other items we buy cause carbon emissions at each point in production. Supporting local small businesses stimulates the economy where you live and “in honour” gifts share our concern for and make a difference in the lives of others less fortunate.

Impact?

We are using the equivalent of 1.6 Earths to maintain our current way of life, and ecosystems cannot keep up with our demands! Buying fewer new clothes and other consumer goods can reduce your carbon footprint. 


*From the UN's Actions for a Healthy Planet in the section titled Reduce, reuse, repair and recycle
Alongside Hope

Alongside Hope

The Advent of Healing

Once again, Alongside Hope is offering daily readings during Advent, titled, The Advent of Healing.  You can subscribe to daily readings, reflections, and prayers from The Reverend Dr. Ray Aldred.  You have the option to subscribe and receive daily messages or you can download Rev. Aldred's PDF resource in full by visiting Alongside Hope's  Advent of Healing page.   

The first reading on November 30th talks about, Charlie Brown's Christmas.  Linus laments, "Doesn't anyone know the real meaning of Christmas?"  Dr. Aldred explores this question and the frustration in living in a world spinning around violence when we are devoted to living a life of peace.  I hope we can follow along with this program and take the time to slow down during this busy season to reflect on Linus's question.

2026 Donation Envelopes Available Now!

2026 Donation Envelopes Available Now!

We are pleased to advise that our numbered donation envelopes for 2026 are now ready for pick-up in the greeting area on Sundays.   You can also pick up your envelopes from the Cathedral office during office hours from Monday to Friday.   Envelope boxes are organized in alphabetical order with a label on the top left corner.

Please Note:  Unused envelopes from 2025 or prior years cannot be used in 2026 or later years as envelope numbers can change from year to year.  Unused envelopes for prior years must be shredded.  Thank you!

We have a surplus of unassigned envelopes for 2026.  If you are not using numbered envelopes and donate during services monthly or more frequently, please email Paula, our Donations Administrator.  Note:  there is no cost to the donor.  

Dedication to new Myler Hall Kitchen: Sunday January 4, 2026

Straight after the 10:30am service on Sunday Jan 4, Dean Tim will be offering a dedication of thanks to the newly updated Myler Hall Kitchen.
Please join us!

Cathedral Oasis Sunday January 4.

Cathedral Oasis Sunday January 4.

An Open Time for Peace and Reflection - First Sunday of the Month 12:30pm-2pm

Our doors are open on the first Sunday of every month for anyone to drop in for peace and reflection in the middle of our busy city.  Feel free to light a candle, say a prayer, or just sit quietly in this beautiful space. Maybe you have never been in the Cathedral and just want to have a look around?  Maybe you would just like to listen to some quiet, peaceful music?  Whoever you are, whatever brings you to our doors, you are very welcome. If you have any questions during your visit, there is someone on hand from our Cathedral Community.

For level access please go to the reception door to the left of the main Cathedral entrances.  

Please contact Bruce Burbidge if you have any questions.

Notice from the Knitting & Crocheting Group

We are looking forward to start a fresh in the New Year every Wednesday at 1pm in the Spence Room.
Please contact Madge Passmore: 905-538-2797 or contact the Cathedral Office: cathedral.admin@niagaraanglican.ca 

Being With

Being With

A Spiritual Growth Initiative - Wednesday, January 14, 2026 7pm-8:30pm

Dean Tim and Rev. Monica will be starting another Being With small group in January 2026.  Created by St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London, UK, this group will help you connect with others while deepening your understanding of the Christian faith.  The group will meet online weekly for the first five weeks, then decide together how to proceed during Lent.  If you are interested, please email Rev. Monica.

Join us for

Being With

Cathedral Questions!

Cathedral Questions!

Sunday, January 18, 2026 12:30-1:30pm

Are you new to the Cathedral?

Do you have questions about Christianity, Anglicanism, Cathedral Life or the building?

Join Dean Tim and Rev. Monica at the front of the church after Coffee Hour for an open conversation that welcomes your questions.  Please feel free to email Rev. Monica to either express your interest or if you'd like more details.

Save the Date: Sunday Feb 8, 2026

Christ’s Church Cathedral will be celebrating its 150th Anniversary!

Celebrating 150 years since Christ’s Church Cathedral was consecrated as the cathedral of the Anglican Diocese of Niagara.

The 150th Anniversary relates to the date when the Act to Incorporate the Synod of the Diocese of Niagara royal assent was received. In practice the cathedral may have obtained status earlier, but in law, it would have become a cathedral when the diocese was formally incorporated, on February 10, 1876.

In 2026, Christ’s Church Cathedral will be celebrating a remarkable milestone, 150 years of sharing God's loving transformation of our lives with our neighbourhood, through inspiring worship and music, spiritual formation and leadership development, compassionate service and advocacy alongside our neighbours, and a warm and inclusive hospitality service, presence, and partnership withinour local community.

Watch out for more celebratory event information coming soon!

Cathedral Christmas Office Hours

Cathedral Christmas Office Hours

Notice from the Christ's Church Cathedral Ministry Team

The Cathedral Office will be closed during Christmas break from Tuesday, December 23 and will open again on Friday, January 2.  Should there be an urgent or important pastoral or parish emergency during this time, please do not hesitate in contacting:

Dean Tim from Dec 21 to Dec 28 at 365-324-4503 or Rev Monica Green from Dec 29 to Jan 3 at 905-865-9977

With heartfelt thanks to all of our volunteers here at our Cathedral, making this a special place to worship. 
Merry Christmas & Happy New year to you and all those you hold dear from the Christ's Church Cathedral Ministry Team.

 

 

Housing Request

Mature (60-year-old) Hamilton-based female — visual artist with writing and adult caregiving experience — seeks studio, room, or home share (for up to $950/month + possible additional duties) in Hamilton for February 1, 2026. Seeking a more sustainable rent and living situation to recover from recent health issues, and to return to arts-based self employment and community work. Conscientious, engaging, positive, and respectful with a preference for quiet spaces, ready access to nature, and/or living in the north end, though open to anywhere in the beautiful city of Hamilton.
Please call or text 289-788-4886.
Thank you! from Revd. Dena Thomas.

Submission Deadline for Chronicle Items

The Chronicle is published digitally each week, with a ‘Highlights’ edition on paper. 
Please forward items for the Chronicle in final draft form at least 2 weeks before publication so that it can be added to the website.
Contact Cathedral Office:
Cathedral.admin@niagaraanglican.ca or 905-527-1316  x240 Thank you.

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252 James St N
Hamilton, ON
Canada L8R 2L3

(905) 527-1316 x240

cathedral@niagaraanglican.ca