Here you will find ways to get connected to other people at all Saints Cathedral, and ways to use your gifts and resources to enrich our common life – as well as the communities beyond our walls. You can be involved in
- the Cathedral’s worship and music
- welcoming visitors and newcomers
- preparing food to share with people who are hungry
- helping to nurture the faith of our youth and children
- offering courses or spiritual initiatives
- contributing to “green” initiatives like our pollinator garden.
Scroll through the list below and see what spikes your energy or piques your interest. If you have some overall questions, please contact the Cathedral’s Administrator, Sarah Underwood, here.
Sunday and Worship Ministries
Welcoming– Teams of volunteers assist on Sunday and at special services, providing a warm welcome, information and helping to maintain the flow of worship. Contact Kathy Chadduck.
Host Coffee Hour – Periodically prepare for and host Coffee Hour after a Sunday service. Help make coffee and tea, provide simple handheld food (made or bought), and tidy up afterwards. Volunteers from the Green Team wash the china cups each week. Contact Jane McKay-Nesbitt.
Altar Servers assist the clergy at the Holy Eucharist and other services of worship. They perform their duties with reverence, skill, and commitment, and are faithful in their attendance at worship. Servers may take on any of the following roles:
- Crucifer: carries the Cross at specified times in the worship service.
- Acolyte: carries a torch during processions.
- Book Bearer: carries the Gospel Book for the Deacon.
- Communion Server: Assists the clergy with the preparation of the altar at the time of the Eucharist. The Cathedral welcomes and will train anyone interested in joining the Server’s Guild.
Sanctuary Guild – This group helps with upkeep and beautification of the cathedral, including the care of holy vessels, precious metals, and linens, and the arrangement of flowers. Volunteers are always welcomed and appreciated on a weekly, monthly or annual basis. Come when you can, as there is always something to polish, dust, or launder.
In particular we are looking for support with flower arrangements. This team meets each Saturday morning around 9:30 am for 1.5 to 2 hours. If you would like to learn more about the Flower Committee, the role, or to set up a Saturday to come and see what the Flower Committee does, contact Joanne Bishop.
The Cathedral Sacristan – Sacristans have the highly detailed, behind-the-scenes task of keeping a church’s services running smoothly. They oversee the sacristy – a room where all the church’s religious vestments and utensils are stored. Their responsibilities include replenishing supplies from microphones to Communion wafers, dry cleaning vestments, distributing leaflets to clergy, marking the Altar Missals and Gospel Book, and setting out all items needed for the Eucharist.
St. Alban’s Servers Guild
Licensed Lay Ministers, formerly known as lay readers, are authorized by a Bishop in the Anglican Communion to lead certain services or parts of services of worship, to preach and to carry out pastoral and teaching functions. They are formally trained and admitted to office, and they remain part of the laity, not of the clergy. Licensed Lay Ministers and Lay Ministers-in-training wear medals held by ribbons to signify their roles. Purple is the colour of a Licensed Lay Minister’s ribbon; blue is the colour worn by a Lay Minister-in-training. You can learn more here about this role here.
Prayers of the People, as the name suggests, are meant to be prayers with involvement by the whole congregation. They are usually led by laypersons. At All Saints most of our prayer leaders write prayers for the Sunday assigned, reflecting the liturgical season, things going on in the congregation as well as current events. We offer training for those interested in leading prayers. Contact Rev. Kate.
Some resources include:
A Handbook for Readers and Intercessors
The Cathedral Choir comprises professional singers, choral scholars, and volunteer singers. The choir sings at the 11 am Choral Eucharist every Sunday, from September through to June, and offers services of Evensong, Lessons & Carols, and Readings & Music regularly, as well as concerts. Our Director of Music, Paul Halley, is always pleased to hear from singers interested in auditioning for the choir. Contact Paul Halley.
Spiritual Formation Ministries
Sunday School – Our organized activities for our youngest members happen during the 9:15 service:
- Kids aged 5 and under attend The Nursery, a colourful, bright room full of toys with a child-sized washroom. Children say a prayer, receive a short lesson and a snack, they may do a craft, and always have lots of playtime. Parents are encouraged to come and get their children for communion.
- Kids from ages 6 to 9 have Sunday school class in the meeting rooms during the 9:15 service.
- Older pre-teens and teenagers meet in a room behind the organ. They return in time for Communion. This age group also lead occasional youth services and helps with outreach programs.
- All are also invited to be part of the annual Christmas pageant. Adult leaders are also appreciated!
Adult Spiritual Formation
Attendance at worship builds our faith, but an hour or so a week is not enough time to allow ourselves to be formed as Christ-followers. We currently offer Bible Study and Meditation Groups, as well as Conversations at the Well; if you have a passion to learn or share your faith, please contact Rev. Kate.
Outreach and Justice Ministries
The Gospel spurs us to compassionate service, advocacy, and justice. Approaches to Outreach and justice incorporate all our resources –time, talents, skills, connections, passions, abilities, finances. If you would like to be involved with the Outreach initiatives of All Saints Cathedral, please click [here – Outreach page] to see the array of opportunities.
Through your financial donations to the Cathedral Church, you support community organizations including;
- Shelter Nova Scotia
- Brunswick Street Mission
- Welcome Housing
- Spencer House
- Mission to Seafarers
- Out of the Cold
- St. George’s YouthNet
- St. George’s Soup Kitchen
- Sponsorship of refugees
- Alongside Hope – formerly the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF)
These organizations operate throughout our region and beyond. Each one implements unique mandates in response to the needs of individuals and families. We trust these organizations as the experts that they are and value what they can accomplish with the financial gifts from the Cathedral Church, as well as financial gifts of others, including individuals, foundations, businesses, and various levels of governments. Together we are making a difference in the lives of many people both near and far.
Anglicans Powering Potential (formerly Anglican Church Women)
Anglicans Powering Potential (APP) is a gender inclusive/gender expansive mini-foundation to enhance the capacity for creative ministry! E-mail [email protected] to learn more and how you can be involved in this exciting venture! Click here for more information. There are organized ministry groups with membership. This group provides a fellowship of spiritual growth, study, and service, both internally to the Cathedral Church and externally to the diocese and the wider community.
Environmental Ministries
Green Team – If you are passionate about the environment and combatting the effects of climate change, you are welcome to join our Green Team, or simply to help out in some of its initiatives:
- Wash china cups after coffee hour on Sunday – several people take turns doing this so that we can eliminate the use of disposable cups. We have a fast dishwasher; it takes roughly 30 minutes to get all the cups washed, dried and put away. Contact Kate Therien.
- Help create better signage for waste disposal – we have compost bins as well as garbage and recycling; they need better signage to ensure correct usage. Contact Kate Therien.
- Help arrange rides to church – to cut down on the use of fossil fuels – and help our older members stay safe. Contact Rev. Kate.
- Help maintain our pollinator garden – once spring comes, there will be lots to do in terms of planting and weeding. Contact Kate Therien.
Bible Study Groups
All Saints Cathedral welcomes involvement in the “nuts and bolts” as well as in spiritual realms. Do you have gifts and interest in the following?
Building and Grounds Team – help organize ongoing maintenance, repairs and planning for the future health of our physical surroundings. Contact Ken Dauphinee…
Stewardship Team – help ensure the financial health of the congregation and make sure its members have opportunities to support God’s mission through this church.
Congregational Council – this body meets monthly to work with the Dean and Clergy to oversee operations and help chart a vision for All Saints Cathedral.
Representative to Regional Council – Our congregation is part of the Chebucto Region (the Halifax peninsula) within the wider Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. We periodically seek persons to represent us on that Council.
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Here you will find ways to get connected to other people at all Saints Cathedral, and ways to use your gifts and resources to enrich our common life – as well as the communities beyond our walls. You can be involved in
- The Cathedral’s worship and music
- Welcoming visitors and newcomers
- Preparing food to share with people who are hungry
- Helping to nurture the faith of our youth and children
- Offering courses or spiritual initiatives
- Contributing to “green” initiatives like our pollinator garden
Scroll through the list below and see what spikes your energy or piques your interest. If you have some overall questions, please contact the Cathedral’s Administrator, Sarah Underwood, here.