eConnections - February 3, 2023
eConnections
Notes & News from the Cathedral of Saint James
February 3, 2023
The Dean's List
Salt & Light
In the Gospel reading appointed for this coming Sunday - the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany - Jesus continues The Sermon on the Mount by saying two rather interesting things about those who were gathered around him: "You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world." (Matthew 5:13-20) We'll talk more about that on Sunday morning, but in the meantime, I invite you to think about those people in your life - past and present - whom you would describe as either salt of the earth or light of the world. Minimally, we'll hold them up in prayer and close to heart during the service. Plus, we'll provide an opportunity for anyone who so desires to share their story with the congregation. *
* If the person you have in mind happens to be in the room on Sunday morning, please check with them to make sure it is okay to share your story.
Discretionary Tales
The Clergy Discretionary Fund received a $1,500 donation from the estate of Tom Gurbick last week in thanksgiving for Tom's life and work in and through the Cathedral of Saint James. Thank you so much to Tim Gurbick for presenting us with this gift.
The need in our community continues to be great: as of this afternoon, we have distributed $3,050 in monetary assistance to 55 different recipients through the first 34 days of 2023, plus gloves, hats, a blanket, the occasional beverage, and a couple of gift cards. Even at that, I estimate that we've turned away at least as many people as we've helped, either because funds were getting low or because we simply had to stop writing checks so we could get other work done. Joe Anand-Obleton and I are working on defining hours during the week that we will be available to provide assistance, which we are quite sure will work to a point but never completely; the day-to-day existence of the poor doesn't really adapt well to office hours, but we'll do our best.
When the weather turns warmer, I would love to host a cook-out in the Butterfly Garden as a way to reach out even more to our community. Anyone interested?
Shortcakes on the Blacktop
Our annual strawberry festival is - believe it or not - a mere four months away. There is an ad below announcing an organizational meeting on Sunday, February 12 at Noon in Cathedral Hall. Please come! The first matter to resolve, however, is this: Who will serve as event coordinators in 2023? SOTB is, on one hand, a well-oiled machine at this point, with lots of people pitching in to help out in roles they have taken on for years. On the other hand, it requires one or two people to direct all of the action. place orders, and make sure everything is happening on time. If you are interested in helping coordinate this amazing outreach ministry, please let me know!
Altar Guild, Acolytes, Ushers, and Greeters
Worship in the Episcopal tradition requires a fair bit of stuff, and handling that stuff requires a fair number of people on any given week. Deacon Anne Wietstock and I are hoping to revive several of our Sunday morning worship ministries including Altar Guild, acolytes, ushers, and greeters. I will say more about this in future editions of eConnections, but for now please consider how you might contribute your time and talent to our weekly worship either in front of or behind the scenes.
The Results Are In
Senior Warden Liz Burman has compiled the results of our congregational poll on renewal conducted at services on January 8 and rendered them in a really cool set of graphics. Click here to see the results. I will also send out a separate email with this information very soon.
Blessings,
Brian
Faith Formation
Sunday Faith Formation
February 5, 2023
9:15 am Faith Formation in Cathedral House
Growing in our Worship (Age 3 - Grade 2)
Storymakers (Grades 3 - 6)
Adult Forum
12:00 - 1:00 pm Youth Group
Youth Group | February 5 from 12 - 1 pm
Youth Group meets this Sunday at noon in the Youth Group room. Join us for a time of community, games, and prayer! Questions? Contact Tamisyn Grantz or Steven Slaubaugh.
Adult Forum | This Sunday, Feb. 5 at 9:15 am
Join us in the Conference Room each Sunday at 9:15 am for robust conversations on faith, practice, and the Christian life. We're currently nearing the end of a series on Wealth, Poverty, and the Christian life. This Sunday, we welcome Rhonda Culbertson for a discussion on 'Wealth, Poverty, and Happiness: How Much Money is Needed for the Good Life?' Rhonda is a Community Outreach Librarian at Indiana University South Bend, a lead coordinator for the Ecumenical Bible Study, and a long time member at the Cathedral.
This Sunday adult forum will have a conversation around the topic of money and happiness. We'll take a brief look at some research articles to get the conversation going.
What is the relationship between money and happiness according to academic research?
How does the relationship between money and happiness vary across different cultures and demographic groups?
Can money buy happiness? Does it matter how we spend our money?
How does faith and religion impact the relationship between money and happiness?
We'll also explore some of the ways happiness is defined and measured.
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Our series wraps up next week! Join us for a conversation on 'Poverty and Religious Life in the High Middle Ages with Dr. Thomas Burman, Director of the Medieval Institute at the University of Notre Dame.
Coming Up Soon...
Celebrating the Feast of Absalom Jones | February 12, 2023
All kids (ages 3 - grade 6) are invited to join together for the chance to learn about the life and example of Absalom Jones. We will meet in the children's classrooms in Cathedral Hall.
Paint the Lent Madness Saints | February 19, 2023
In a Lenten tradition unlike any other, we will be painting the Lent Madness Saints for a third consecutive year. Check out this year's bracket at lentmadness.org
Join us for a joint Lenten Book study with St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Mishawaka on Silence by Shusaku Endo. Here is a preview of the book:
'Seventeenth-century Japan: Two Portuguese Jesuit priests travel to a country hostile to their religion, where feudal lords force the faithful to publicly renounce their beliefs. Eventually captured and forced to watch their Japanese Christian brothers lay down their lives for their faith, the priests bear witness to unimaginable cruelties that test their own beliefs. Shusaku Endo is one of the most celebrated and well-known Japanese fiction writers of the twentieth century, and Silence is widely considered to be his great masterpiece.'
Want to join? Email Steven Slaubaugh: formation@stjamessouthbend.org
Service Opportunities
Cathedral Calendar
This Week at CSJ
Saturday, February 4
No Events Scheduled
Sunday, February 5
The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
8:00 am Holy Eucharist: Rite One
9:15 am Christian Formation
Nursery Open
Growing in Our Worship
Storymakers
Adult Forum
10:30 am Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
11:45 am Hospitality
12:00 pm Youth Group
Monday, February 6
Administrative Offices Closed
6:30 pm Education for Ministry
Tuesday, February 7
Administrative Offices: 9 am - 1:30 pm
Fr. Brian out of the office
No Events Scheduled
Wednesday, February 8
Administrative Offices: 9 am - 1:30 pm
9:30 am Raising Cane Bible Study
Call (425) 436-6335; Access Code 782266
7:00 pm Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, February 9
No Events Scheduled
Friday, February 10
Administrative Offices: 9 am - 1:30 pm
12:05 pm Holy Eucharist
Saturday, February 11
10:00 am God Outside Hike
Chain-O-Lakes State Park
Sunday, February 12
The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
Absalom Jones observance
8:00 am Holy Eucharist: Rite One
9:15 am Christian Formation
Nursery Open
Growing in Our Worship
Storymakers
Adult Forum
10:30 am Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
11:45 am Hospitality
12:00 pm Youth Group
12:00 pm Shortcakes on the Blacktop
Organizational Meeting
Looking Ahead
Sunday, February 5
Ecumenical Bible Study at 12:30 pm
Saturday, February 11
Chili Contest at 5 pm
Sunday, February 12
Feast of Absalom Jones
Shortcakes Meeting at 12 pm
Sunday, February 19
Paint the Lent Madness Saints at 9 am
St. Margaret's House Winter Walk at 2:20 pm
Wednesday, February 21
Pancake Dinner at St. Paul's Episcopal Church at 5:30 pm
Wednesday, February 22
Ash Wednesday
Saint Pauls' Episcopal Church, Mishawaka
Serving Our Parish
Sunday, February 5
8:00 am Lector: Patty Hans
8:00 am Server: Steven Slaubaugh
9:15 am Growing in Our Worship: Stephanie Campbell & Christopher Hillak
9:15 am Storymakers: Katie Gotfried & Shela Raman McCabe
10:30 am Lectors: Stephen Drendall & Kirk Philippsen
10:30 am Server: Freddy Kallenberg
10:30 am Lay Ministers: Steven Mast & Nan Noecker
10:30 am Ushers: Keith LaPierre & Nicole Pinter
10:30 am Hospitality: Lisa Philippsen
Counters (Feb 8): Sue Lowe & Betsy VanderBurg
Volunteers Needed
February 12: 10:30 am Usher
February 19: 10:30 am Server
For Your Prayers
A Collect for Black History Month
from Common Worship
Compassionate God, who sent Jesus Christ to deliver us from all manner of injustices and inequalities, create in us new hearts and enlarged visions, to see the image of God in every person irrespective of background, race and ethnicity. May we be generous in our love of others as we work towards ending misunderstanding, racism and injustice; creating communities of human flourishing, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
For the repose of the soul of Shannon, sister of Eric McManus.
For Julie Guiler, daughter of Joe Guth.
For the repose of the soul of Jeremy; for Bill and his family, and for Peg.
For Donna Woods, and for Dave.
For Peju, Bunmi, and the Okanlami family.
For Gina Dudeck & Dale Brucki
For the repose of the soul of Martha Raman.
For the Raman family.
For the Henderson family.
For the Gurbick family.
For Milo & Gussie Wietstock, parents of Steve Wietstock.
Mike Jaworski, and Lisa.
Marilyn Klopfenstein
Gloria Henry, sister of Tony Molnar
Tony Molnar
Greg Gotsch
Dan & Gail Mandell
Russell Cartwright
Ron Gunn
Mother Tina Velthuizen
Cobie
Alissa Broussara
Doug Martindale
Dave and Alice Miller
Norris Whitfield
Mary Beth Wright
Nan Noecker as she continues her diaconal formation
Becky Ballentine; Rob & Jo Dorsch; Sharron McGowan; Joyce Marchant; Dave & Alice Miller; Fr. Paul Tracy; Bill Brennen; Ginger & Richard.
Al Caparell; Tony Lemna; Mike; Denise & Demetrius
For those preparing for marriage: Matthew Diehl & Chau-ly Phan (September 30).
For those awaiting the birth or adoption of a child: Christopher & Andrew Hillak.
Social Media
Cathedral of Saint James Podcast
Our adult forum conversation with Dr. Samantha Slaubaugh on 'Wealth, Poverty, and the Patristic Period' is now available on Apple Podcasts:
Cathedral of Saint James Livestream
We livestream each 10:30 AM Sunday service on YouTube and Facebook.