eConnections - April 7, 2023
eConnections
Notes & News from the Cathedral of Saint James
April 7, 2023
The Dean's List
God Appointed a Cold
On Palm Sunday I was on Day 5 of a respiratory ailment that had already knocked me out of the service for the Blessing of the Oils and made Noon Eucharist something of an adventure on Friday, March 31. Palm Sunday was glorious weather-wise and church-wise, and while I went home a bit more fatigued than normal, I felt mostly okay. By Sunday evening, however, I could barely talk. No worries, I thought, I'll just rest up and it will go away after a day or two, like normal. Except it didn't. Whatever this virus is, it seems to have found a really hospitable host in me. With Maundy Thursday and Good Friday approaching, I was preparing to preach but wondering how, exactly, it would go.
On the morning of Maundy Thursday, Bishop Frank Gray texted me saying he had had some inspiration over night and had outlines for sermons for both Maundy Thursday and Good Friday; if I wished, he would be happy to preach. Usually, I try to tough these things out, but I'm actually supposed to lead some singing on Easter Sunday (we'll see...) and my larynx is prone to complain right now under any load at all. Not only that, if the Holy Spirit was up to something in Bishop Gray, it seemed like a good idea to find out what it was.
We were not disappointed. Bishop Gray preached two powerful sermons that set us on a good and holy road through this Triduum. You can check them out here. Additionally, the liturgies for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday were, themselves, powerful, perhaps abetted by the fact that I had to slow down and could not speak much above a whisper. Saint Paul says in the Letter to the Romans that "in all things God works for good," and in this instance that was plain and obvious.
My deepest gratitude to Bishop Gray for his generosity of spirit and willingness to serve. Likewise to Bishop Doug Sparks, who made the same offer just a few minutes after I had accepted Bishop Gray's. We have all been blessed because of what I was unable to do. I'm sure there are more lessons in there somewhere :)
Great Vigil of Easter Parking
Additional parking for the Great Vigil of Easter at Trinity Episcopal Church, Niles, will be available at Fifth/Third Bank in both the front and back lots, and at First Presbyterian Church of Niles. Thank you so much to those organizations for accommodating us!
Speaking of Parking...
Our North Lafayette Boulevard parking lot (St. Margaret's House) will be closed next Friday, April 14 and Saturday, April 15 while workers seal and re-stripe the lot. Parking for the Friday Noon Eucharist will be as available on the street or in the First Presbyterian Church lot across the street from Central Tire & Auto.
Easter Sunday Kids Program
All children are invited to participate in a special "no rehearsal necessary" children's program on Easter Sunday at the 10:00 am service. That said, if any child wants to do a wee little rehearsal to learn some awesome dance moves, we will meet in Cathedral Hall at 9 am for a brief run-through.
Discretionary Tales
In short, we're out of money. This past Tuesday and Wednesday were extraordinarily busy, with nine people waiting in line at the door for me when I arrived on Wednesday morning. The Clergy Discretionary Fund balance is now below $100 for the first time in many years. If any are moved to help replenish this fund, we would be most grateful.
Lenten Coin Offering
The ingathering of coins from our Lenten Change the World offering will take place on Sunday, April 16.
Blessings, all.
Brian
Lent Madness 2023 Golden Halo Ceremony
Congratulations to Jonathan Myrick Daniels, the recipient of the 2023 Golden Halo! The official Golden Halo award presentation took place this past Thursday in the Cathedral Sanctuary.
Who painted the Golden Halo recipient? It was...Abby Gray! Take a close look at Abby's beautiful artwork above.
Thanks again to everyone who made another year of Lent Madness, and our own peg doll saints, possible.
Faith Formation
Earth Day, Work Day
Next Sunday, April 16 from 9:15 - 10:15 am
Meets Outside in the Butterfly Garden
All ages are invited to join us outside for an Earth Day, Work Day program in the Butterfly Garden! Please dress for light work. Please bring gloves and garden tools, as able (we have a pretty good supply if you aren’t able to bring some). There will be something to do for all ages
Adult Forum | New Series Starting April 23
Click Here for Series Schedule and More Details
Service Opportunities
Cathedral Calendar
This Week at CSJ
Saturday, April 8
Holy Saturday | Easter Eve
10:00 am God Outside: Holy Saturday Hike
Potato Creek State Park, Trail 1
Meet at the Nature Center
7:30 pm Rehearsal for the Great Vigil of Easter
at Trinity Episcopal Church. Niles
9:00 pm The Great Vigil of Easter
at Trinity Episcopal Church, Niles
with St. Paul's, Mishawaka; Trinity, Niles;
The Cathedral of Saint James, South Bend;
and St. Michael & All Angels, South Bend
10:45 pm The Easter Feast
Sunday, April 9
Easter Sunday
10:00 am Festal Easter Eucharist
The Baptism of Jack William Laney
& Children's Program: The Little Vigil
11:30 am Hospitality Hour
11:30 am Easter Egg Hunt
Monday, April 10
Monday in Easter Week
Administrative Offices Closed
We're not doing anything today. Thank you.
Tuesday, April 11
Tuesday in Easter Week
Administrative Offices: 9 am - 1:30 pm
Fr. Brian out of the office
5:30 pm Finance Committee
Wednesday, April 12
Wednesday in Easter Week
Administrative Offices: 9 am - 1:30 pm
9:30 am Raising Cane Bible Study
Call (425) 436-6335; Access Code 782266
1:15 pm Church Buildings for Collaborative
Partnerships Zoom Meeting
7:00 pm Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, April 13
Thursday in Easter Week
Administrative Offices: 9 am - 1:30 pm
6:30 pm Confirm, not Conform (Adult)
Friday, April 14
Friday in Easter Week
Administrative Offices: 9 am - 1:30 pm
11:30 am Confirm, not Conform (Youth) Pilgrimage
departure
12:05 pm Holy Eucharist
2:00 pm CnC (Youth) at Plainsong Farm
Saturday, April 15
Saturday in Easter Week
CnC (Youth) Pilgrimage, Day Two
7:00 am South Shore Line to Chicago
9:30 am Grace Place, Chicago
11:00 am Chinatown Food Tour
2:30 pm Art Institute of Chicago
6:49 pm South Shore Line to South Bend
10:31 pm Arrive South Bend
Sunday, April 9
The Second Sunday of Easter
8:00 am Holy Eucharist: Rite One
9:15 am Intergenerational Sunday
Celebrating Earth Day
10:30 am Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
11:45 am Hospitality Hour
12:00 pm Shortcakes on the Blacktop Team Meeting
Looking Ahead
Sunday, April 23
The Bishop's Visitation
May 10 - 31
The Dean's Mini-Sabbatical:
The Camino Portuguese
Thursday, April 27
Confirm, not Conform Banquet
Thursday, June 8
Shortcakes on the Blacktop
Sunday, June 25
10:30 am Honoring & Remembering Norm Dales
2:05 pm South Bend Cubs Baseball
Making Sunday Worship Possible
Saturday, April 8
Easter Eve
9:00 pm Lector Tamisyn Grantz (Ezekiel 37)
9:00 pm Thurifer Kirk Philippsen
Sunday, April 9
Easter Sunday
10:00 am Acolyte Matthew Worns
10:00 am Lectors Liz Burman & Julie Martindale
10:00 am Eucharistic Ministers Kirk Philippsen & Stephen Drendall
10:00 am Ushers Michael Worns & Laura Worns
10:00 am Hospitality Kirk & Lisa Philippsen
Counters: Wednesday, April 12: Sue Lowe & Betsy VanderBurg
Volunteers Needed: It would be REALLY nice if we had two more acolytes on Easter Sunday.
For Your Prayers
For Rhonda
For Tammy
For Alan Thompson
For Joe & Michael, who are traveling.
For the repose of the soul of Hattie Newton.
For the repose of the soul of Rob Dorsch.
For Jo Dorsch and the Dorsch family.
For Donna Woods as she convalesces following surgery, and for Dave.
Thanksgiving for successful surgery for Patty Hans.
For Peju, Bunmi, and the Okanlami family.
For Gina Dudeck & Dale Brucki
For the Raman family.
For Milo & Gussie Wietstock, parents of Steve Wietstock.
Mike Jaworski, and Lisa.
Marilyn Klopfenstein
Tony Molnar
Greg Gotsch
Dan & Gail Mandell
Russell Cartwright
Ron Gunn
Cobie
Alissa Broussara
Nan Noecker as she continues her diaconal formation
Mary Beth Wright; Becky Ballentine; Jo Dorsch; Sharron McGowan; Joyce Marchant; Dave & Alice Miller; Fr. Paul Tracy; Bill Brennen; Ginger & Richard Bitner.
Al Caparell; Tony Lemna; Mike; Denise & Demetrius
For those preparing for Holy Baptism: Jack Laney, Sophia Helfrich.
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.