eConnections - October 28, 2023
eConnections
Notes & News from the Cathedral of Saint James
October 28, 2023
In this Week's eConnections:
The Dean's List
Stewardship 2023
Daughters of the King Fall Assembly
Growing in Our Worship
Story Makers
Adult Forum
Daughters of the King Christmas Outreach Project
Dining Out Group
All Saints Prayer Cards
All Saints Day Eucharist
St. Margaret's House: A Common Thread
Cathedral Calendar
Making Sunday Worship Happen: Volunteers for this Sunday
For Your Prayers
The Dean's List
Guest Preacher on October 29
Jack Consolie, a second-year seminarian at Moreau Seminary, will preach at the Cathedral at both services on Sunday, October 29. I have been meeting with Jack from time to time since his freshman year of undergraduate studies at Notre Dame. He is also a regular at our Friday noon Eucharist when his schedule has allowed. Please welcome him!
8:00 am Eucharist Halloween Costumes
Eight o'clockers! Please remember that young Miss Clara has requested everyone wear costumes to church tomorrow. And please also know that I did NOT tell our guest preacher that this might be a possibility, so... doubly fun :)
10:30 o'clockers! If you want to come in costume, too, that would be fun! Please use your best judgement about what is appropriate for church :)
Deacon Anne's Brother
Deacon Anne Wietstock's brother, Jim Mostrom, underwent successful double bypass surgery this past Wednesday and 'turned a corner' yesterday in his recovery. Deacon Anne is in Syracuse, New York tending to Jim and his wife, Betsy, in these early days of Jim's convalescence. Please continue to hold Jim, Betsy, Deacon Anne, and the whole Mostrom and Wietstock families in your prayers.
Deacon Clay Berkley, who has been attending the Cathedral of Saint James while on sabbatical from his sacerdotal responsibilities, will serve in his diaconal capacity at the 10:30 service this Sunday.
Sacristy Progress
Matthew & the Retirees, the intrepid Cathedral construction crew featuring Matthew Worns, Rick Hilliard, Mike McCrea, Kirk Philippsen, and Dave Woods, have been doing great work on many projects around the Cathedral. The current project - their most ambitious to date - is the renovation of the sacristy, a project last undertaken - I'm guessing - in the early 1960s. This past week the crew got to do their very favorite thing: demolition, to make way for new bespoke cabinets upon which now rests new granite countertops. Come check it out this Sunday!
Next up: finishing the doors and drawer fronts for the cabinets, refacing the vestment cabinet, and installing new flooring. After that, a professional plasterer comes to repair the walls, followed by a professional painter to finish out the project.
By the way: if you want to join the crew, just say the word. More help is always appreciated and there is always another project to do in a 129 year-old building :)
Shout Out: Granite Creations did a splendid job with the countertops and very patiently enlarged the openings for both sinks on-site because - as we learned - you can't trust the manufacturer's spec sheets to be accurate.
An Update from the Grantz House
Our gratitude for the Cathedral community deepens with each passing day. Thank you so much for the many ways you have reached out to Tamisyn and me during this most interesting time!
Tamisyn's post-op visit with the surgeon on Friday morning went well. The bulky wrappings on her wrist are now gone and the stitches from three incision sites were removed. With new x-rays, Dr. Folau showed us just how impressively Tamisyn's wrist was broken: the permanent plate on her radius covers a few gaps where the bone was shattered into such small pieces that there are now gaps where it is missing. The temporary rod on top of her hand extending from her middle finger to her radius is keeping her wrist from bending while it heals. And x-rays of her foot show that her calcaneus (heel bone) is about 13 degrees off it's normal angle, the full implications of which we will learn in due time.
Tamisyn's foot continues to be non-weight-bearing until our next appointment on December 1. She begins physical therapy on her wrist this coming Monday, mostly - at this point - to regain strength and range of motion in her hand. She can now bear limited weight with her wrist, the best implication of which is she can guide her kneeling scooter with both hands.
Her increased mobility allows me to be out of the house for longer periods of time, so I'll be in the office and out and about more in the next few weeks.
Thank you again for all of your prayers, visits, meals, and encouragement.
Gather & Grow
The architect's plan for the new elevator will be presented to the Cathedral community on Sunday, November 12. You can choose one of two opportunities that morning to participate in Q&A and offer feedback: 9:00 am - 9:30 am and 11:45 am - 12:15 am. Both presentations will take place in the Church.
Kitchen Upgrades
Last week I wrote about a grant application submitted by Team Cathedral through the Church Buildings for Collaborative Partnerships process to replace some of our kitchen appliances. This past Wednesday we learned that we were awarded the full amount of $10,000! It is a matching grant, but we already have a pledge to match the required amount. Thanks be to God! If Diocesan Convention approves a pending resolution next Saturday, we will apply for an additional $10,000 grant for this project, which should be available to us in February 2024.
What are we doing? We need to replace our broken and obsolete ten-burner, double-oven gas range and decrepit and confounding dishwasher. With guidance from our Eco-Cathedral initiative, we will purchase a six-burner single oven electric range and a five-rack, free-standing convection oven. Including the dishwasher, the total cost for equipment and installation - including removal of the existing equipment, plumbing, and electrical work - will be around $30,000, so we'll bank what we don't spend on the range and oven and secure the remainder for the dishwasher as part of the Gather & Grow campaign.
Why are we doing this? In a word: Mission.
Mission
I'm sure the Cathedral has a mission statement. Leadership seminars in the 1990s began with the notion that every institution needed a clear and concise mission statement that could roll off the tongue of every person within that organization, so every vestry spent a considerable amount of time working on a mission statement. I have to admit that I was a bit cynical about the whole thing. We're a church, so we should Church, right? In Biblical language, we could be guided by Jesus' words in Mark 16:15: "Go into the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation." Or we might defer to the Catechism in the Book of Common Prayer, which says: Q. What is the Mission of the Church? A. The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ (BCP 855). For the most part, the mission statements that we labored over in the 90s were both unoriginal and uninspiring. We completed the exercise, printed the mission statement in a newsletter or two, and then went on with our previously scheduled lives.
I didn't really appreciate the value of a mission statement until I started working with St. Margaret's House. (You can read their mission statement here). In leadership and development meetings, their stated mission is at the forefront of deliberations and decisions, guiding both their future dreams and daily operations. Seeing a good mission statement in action caused the light to come on for me.
Although not yet fully articulated in a coherent statement, the emergent mission priorities of our community as a church that also happens to be a Cathedral are worship and hospitality, with an aspirational nod to education/formation. The Gather & Grow conversations have consciously held these values up as plans for completing the accessibility program, including upgrades to our worship space, Cathedral Hall, and the kitchen take shape. Making our facilities work for everyone is a matter of deep hospitality, enabling the People of God - whoever they may be - to gather in Cathedral spaces and grow in the knowledge and love of God and our neighbors.
Blessings,
Brian
Stewardship 2023
Upcoming Events
Since 1898, volunteers of the Seamen’s Church Institute have knitted, collected, packed, and distributed gifts to mariners who were miles away from home during the holidays. Today, for seafarers calling on the Port Newark and Elizabeth in New Jersey, the gift consists of two hand-knitted garments, a Christmas card, and information on SCI’s services for mariners along with toiletries like hand lotion, lip balm, and toothbrushes, and individually-packaged candy or snacks. The items for the seafarers’ gifts are housed in an individual hand-sewn ditty bag, and they are delivered to the ships by SCI chaplains from the Monday before Thanksgiving through Epiphany on January 6. Mariners working on U.S. inland rivers receive a box for each boat containing handmade Christmas cards and a knit for each mariner.
Items for the contents for Christmas at Sea Ditty Bags
“Seafarers each receive a hand-sewn ditty bag housing two handmade knit gifts and a signed Christmas card, along with an assortment of donated toiletries, fun games, and individually packaged snacks or candy. If the needleworker includes a note with their knit gift, that would also be packed with the knits. These items go fast when we are packing. Travel or sample size donations of new products are greatly appreciated!” - Christmas at Sea
Toothbrushes and travel-sized tubes of toothpaste
Deodorant (unscented)
Unscented hand lotion (4 oz bottles)
Shampoo
Conditioner
Body wash
Individually packaged non-perishable candy and snacks like granola bars
Books or activities like Sudoku, word searches, or playing cards
Facial tissue
Microwave popcorn
Pouches of hot chocolate mix
Chewing gum
Christmas cards
Cathedral Calendar
This Week at CSJ
Sunday, October 29
The Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost
Year A, Proper 25, Track 2
Mr. Jack Consolie, Moreau Seminary seminarian, guest preacher
8:00 am Holy Eucharist: Rite One
9:15 am Christian Formation
- Growing in Our Worship
- Story Makers
- Adult Forum
10:30 am Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
11:45 am Hospitality
Monday, October 30
Administrative Offices Closed
7:00 pm Education for Ministry
Tuesday, October 31
All Hallow's Eve
Administrative Offices: 9 am - 1:30 pm
No Events Scheduled
Wednesday, November 1
All Saints' Day
Administrative Offices: 9 am - 1:30 pm
9:30 am Raising Cane Bible Study
Call (425) 436-6335; Access Code 782266
7:00 pm All Saints' Day Eucharist
Thursday, November 2
All Soul's Day
Administrative Offices: 9 am - 1:30 pm
7:00 pm Julian Group
Friday, November 3
Administrative Offices: 9 am - 1:30 pm
12:05 pm Holy Eucharist
7:00 pm A Common Thread
Saturday, November 4
9:00 am The 125th Convention of
The Diocese of Northern Indiana
@ St. Michael & All Angels, South Bend
Sunday, November 5
All Saints Day (observed)
8:00 am Holy Eucharist: Rite One
9:15 am Christian Formation
- Growing in Our Worship
- Story Makers
- Adult Forum
10:30 am Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
11:45 am Hospitality
12:00 pm Youth Group
12:30 pm Ecumenical Bible Study
Looking Ahead
Sunday, November 12
Presentation of Elevator Addition Plans
Tuesday, November 14
Chapter & Finance Committee
Wednesday, November 15
Fr. Brian out of the office for Thanksgiving holiday
through November 29
Thursday, November 23
Thanksgiving Day
Friday, November 24
No Noon Eucharist
Making Sunday Worship Happen
Sunday, October 29
The Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost
Year A, Proper 25 Track Two
8:00 am Lector Kate Lee
8:00 am Eucharistic Minister Nan Noecker
10:30 am Lectors Peg Swadener & Bunmi Okanlami
10:30 am Server Kirk Philippsen
10:30 am Eucharistic Ministers Stephen Drendall & Mary Beth Wright
10:30 am Ushers Mike McCrea & Nicole Pinter
10:30 am Hospitality Tina Velthuizen
Counters: Wednesday, November 1: Rick Hilliard & Betsy VanderBurg
Folder: Friday, November 3: Shela Raman-McCabe
Flowers: The flowers adorning the altar today are given by Jane Hunter in memory of James A. and Ruth E. Hunter.
Volunteers Needed
Sunday, November 12
8:00 am Lector
10:30 am Usher
For Your Prayers
For Dan Demler, Sr. who fell in his home this past week, breaking his right clavicle and a few ribs, one of which punctured his lung. He is currently inpatient at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, doing somewhat better after a few rough days.
For Jim Mostrom, brother of Deacon Anne Wietstock, and his wife, Betsy.
For Deacon Anne, who is in New York with her brother and sister-in-law.
For the repose of the soul of Carolyn Campbell; for her children and step-children and their families.
For Tim Haywood, who is currently receiving treatment for bladder cancer; and for Janice Haywood.
For Grace Yakes, niece of Mtr. Tina Velthuizen, who is suffering from an abdominal ailment.
For Tamisyn Grantz.
For Gloria Henry, sister of Tony Molnar.
For Connor Gibbons
For Olivia, who has leukemia, and her family.
For Sheila & family.
For Amber.
For Sandy.
For John G.
For Dede.
For John Monroe, brother of Sue Fain.
For Pat, who is working in California until November, and Shela.
Caitlin H.
Steve B.
Cherryl Andries.
The LaFiero family.
Sharron McGowan.
Kara.
Bernard.
Rhonda.
Tammy, daughter of Tony Molnar.
Alan Thompson.
Peju, Bunmi, and the Okanlami family.
Gussie Wietstock, mother of Steve Wietstock.
Mike Jaworski, and Lisa.
Marilyn Klopfenstein.
Tony Molnar.
Dan & Gail Mandell.
Ron Gunn.
Cobie.
Alissa Broussara.
Nan Noecker as she continues her diaconal formation.
Becky Ballentine; Jo Dorsch; Sharron McGowan; Joyce Marchant; Dave & Alice Miller; Fr. Paul Tracy; Ginger & Richard Bitner.
Al Caparell; Tony Lemna; Mike; Denise & Demetrius.
For those awaiting the birth or adoption of a child: Christopher & Andrew Hillak.