eConnections - May 12, 2023
eConnections
Notes & News from the Cathedral of Saint James
May 12, 2023
In this Week's eConnections:
Update from Kim Gray on Church Buildings for Collaborative Partnerships
Slaubaugh Farewell Fund
Outward and Visible Signs of Welcome at CSJ
Ascension Day Eucharist Details (This Thursday, May 18 at 7 pm)
Episcopalian Day at Four Winds Field
Sunday Faith Formation (All Ages Formation this Sunday)
St. Margaret's House Undie 500
Shortcakes on the Blacktop (Volunteers Needed!)
Cathedral Calendar (5/13-5/20)
Making Sunday Worship Happen: Volunteers for this Sunday
For Your Prayers
CBCP: Church Buildings for Collaborative Partnerships
In the summer of 2022, a small leadership team at the Cathedral joined CBCP Cohort 3 with the purpose of helping our parish connect our building to our mission and vision. Below is a summary of what we’ve learned from the Partners for Sacred Spaces Report. Your participation at a Congregational Building Tour on June 4th will provide more information and offer YOU a chance to share your feedback.
Summary and Reflections on the Church Buildings for Collaborative Partnerships Process and Partners for Sacred Spaces Report
What have we learned? Some of our strengths as a Cathedral include our long term partnership with St. Margaret’s House, our ties to civic leaders and the community, and our location for downtown ministry.
The CBCP Site Visit report from Partners for Sacred Places focused on parish information to connect its building to its mission and vision in order to “deepen its partnerships within the community thus unlocking new opportunities within the parish, its facilities, and surrounding community.” (p. 2) It offered findings, recommendations, and next steps around the questions: Who are we, what do we have, and how are we connecting that with what we are doing in downtown South Bend?
What are some new insights?
We are a key asset to the downtown, especially through our key partnership with St. Margaret’s House. “The parish feels called to look more carefully at how the current configuration and layout of its buildings support or impede their ability to fulfill their mission; and how its location and campus can be used more effectively to grow visibility and enhance mission.” (p. 2-3) This means our physical structure can be a vehicle for St. James’ mission.
Space sharing partnerships should be viewed through the lens of the mission and vision of the church. There are pros and cons around long-term partnerships and short-term rentals. Long-term partnerships (like SMH) can come from shared mission and vision and require more buy-in but perhaps more autonomy in space sharing. Short-term rentals can involve more management but may increase visibility, provide income, and offer opportunities for smaller ventures or nonprofits.
Because the report includes many detailed recommendations, Partners have strongly encouraged us as a parish to develop a plan that unfolds over time. A master plan process could be a guiding force for a capital campaign or grant proposal to help us translate our vision into design concepts. Participating in a Congregational Building Tour is one step towards that goal.
Possible Next Steps:
Chapter work around Mission and Vision
Congregational Building Tours (June 4)
Share back to the Chapter at June 20th meeting (responses from CBCP and Congregational Building Tour)
CBCP Grant (Sept 30)
Master Plan - discernment around St. James’ new path
Host a second community engagement meeting
Engage with ND CPI to identify specific next steps for collaboration
Respectfully submitted by Kim Gray 5/3/23
Imagining Our Future
Several teams formed by the Cathedral Chapter have been at work for awhile now considering our mission, ministry, physical plant, values, and short- and long-term plans. Here’s what coming up as we continue these exciting conversations:
Sunday, June 4
The congregation is invited to tour the entire Cathedral physical plant to see and respond to all of our spaces and help imagine their potential. Walk-throughs at 9:15 am and 11:45 am.
Tuesday, June 20
Reports to Chapter from Gather & Grow, Church Buildings for Collaborative Partnerships, and Five-Year Plan teams at 5:30 pm.
Slaubaugh Farewell Fund
I will say more about the import and impact of Steven Slaubaugh's ministry at the Cathedral in the coming weeks, not to mention the joy and blessing of having Samantha, Eliza, and Rey in the Cathedral community. Please join Tamisyn and me in sharing and outward and visible sign of our love and appreciation by making a gift to the Slaubaugh Farewell Fund, which we will present to Steven on Sunday, June 25. You may give by cash or check on Sundays between now and then, or through Givelify. Thank you so much!
Fr. Brian
At our April meeting, the Cathedral Chapter considered what we might do to communicate our welcome and inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer persons. In truth, this is not only a question about our willingness to be open to others, it is about who we already are: a congregation that already embraces many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer persons - many known, some not - as beloved, faithful members of our community of faith. I, personally, am deeply gratified to be part of a church that represents such a panoply of the human condition.
That said, I am aware that when we show outward and visible signs of welcome and inclusion to particular segments of the population, there are some who get uncomfortable, perhaps wondering why it is necessary when we seek and serve Christ in all persons and strive to respect the dignity of every human being as central tenets of our faith. Well, let me tell a story...
Last week a man who is near and dear to many of us told me that he and his husband had gone for an evening stroll the night before on a Lake Michigan beach. While there, they were accosted by a group of who identified themselves as Christians, who then proceeded to publicly and passionately berate the couple. The two wisely decided not to attempt to engage the group in conversation, not for lack of clarity and certainty about their personhood and marriage, but for the most part because of the potential for escalation and violence in the current cultural and political climate. The worst part, he told me, was that there was a group of bystanders who did nothing to intervene in the situation and seemed afterwards to approach the group in a spirit of affirmation.
If there is a word in the English language that means "simultaneously grieved and infuriated," that's what I was upon hearing about this experience.
In June, with the blessing of the Chapter, we will fly the Pride Progress flag in front of the Cathedral and help staff the diocesan booth at South Bend's Pride Festival on Saturday, June 17. In these small ways, we seek to outwardly and visibly demonstrate our care and support and welcome and inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons who regularly endure the derision of others, including many Christians, sadly. It is certainly our hope to communicate belovedness and belonging to all, but sometimes some need to hear specifically and especially that we do not intend to give as the world gives, but as Christ leads us in love.
Blessings,
Brian
Sign-Up for Episcopalian Day at Four Winds
Pay for Tickets for Episcopalian Day
To pay online for tickets using the Givelify website, click on the button above.
Click "Other" for the amount.
Enter the amount ($13.40 x the number of tickets), then click "Okay."
Select "Episcopalian Day at Four Winds Field."
Click "Add Message" to let us know your name, then "Done."
Click "Give Now," then follow instructions for payment.
Payment can also be made by check to The Cathedral of Saint James.
Faith Formation
Sunday Faith Formation
May 14, 2023
9:15 am All Ages Faith Formation
Meet in the Butterfly Garden!
All Ages Formation this Sunday | 9:15 - 10:15 am
Please join us this Sunday for an immersive all-ages formation program taking place at 9:15 in the enchanting Butterfly Garden. Catherine Cramer will delve into the significance of water in nurturing all living beings, from the birds and bugs to the delicate flora that graces our surroundings. Embark on a transformative journey through three different stations. Join us as we reflect on the interconnectedness of all life and embrace our responsibility to nurture the Earth, as we honor the sacredness of water in this captivating garden exploration.
This is our final all ages formation activity of the Spring 2023 program year.
Service Opportunities
Purchase Shortcakes Tickets Here.
Cathedral Calendar
This Week at CSJ
Saturday, May 13
No Events Scheduled
Sunday, May 14
The Sixth Sunday of Easter
Happy Mother's Day
Canon Tina Velthuizen, presiding & preaching
8:00 am Holy Eucharist: Rite One
9:15 am All Ages Formation Sunday
- Nursery Open
- Intergenerational Program in Butterfly Garden
10:30 am Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
11:45 am Hospitality
Monday, May 15
Administrative Offices Closed
Fr. Brian on Mini-Sabbatical
6:30 pm Education for Ministry
Tuesday, May 16
Administrative Offices: 9 am - 1:30 pm
Fr. Brian on Mini-Sabbatical
5:30 pm Chapter Meeting
Wednesday, May 17
Administrative Offices: 9 am - 1:30 pm
Fr. Brian on Mini-Sabbatical
9:30 am Raising Cane Bible Study
Call (425) 436-6335; Access Code 782266
7:00 pm Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, May 18
Ascension Day
Administrative Offices: 9 am - 1:30 pm
Fr. Brian on Mini-Sabbatical
7:00 pm Ascension Day Eucharist
Friday, May 19
Administrative Offices: 9 am - 1:30 pm
Fr. Brian on Mini-Sabbatical
12:05 pm Holy Eucharist
Saturday, May 20
Fr. Brian on Mini-Sabbatical
No Events Scheduled
Sunday, May 21
The Seventh Sunday of Easter
Canon Tina Velthuizen, presiding & preaching
8:00 am Holy Eucharist: Rite One
9:15 am Last Day of Christian Formation
- Nursery Open
- Growing in Our Worship
- Story Makers
- Adult Forum
10:30 am Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
11:45 am Hospitality
12:00 pm SOTB Equipment Moving & Cleaning
Fr. Brian on Mini-Sabbatical
Looking Ahead
through May 31
The Dean's Mini-Sabbatical:
The Camino Portuguese
May 28
Pentecost
Thursday, June 8
Shortcakes on the Blacktop
Sunday, June 25
10:30 am Honoring & Remembering Norm Dales
12:00 pm Bring Your Own Picnic in the Butterfly Garden
2:05 pm Episcopalian Day at Four Winds Field
Making Sunday Worship Happen
Sunday, May 14
The Sixth Sunday of Easter
8:00 am Lector Jane Hunter
10:30 am Acolyte Anne Gray
10:30 am Lectors Julie Martindale (1) and Steven Slaubaugh (2)
10:30 am Eucharistic Ministers Nan Noecker and Tim Gray
10:30 am Ushers Michael Worns and Keith LaPierre
10:30 am Hospitality Liz & Tom Burman
Counters: Wednesday, May 16: Mary Lehman and Peg Swadener
Volunteers Needed
Please consider serving Christ and the Church in any of the above roles as we gather for Sunday worship.
For Your Prayers
Patrice Jones, sister of Mike McCrea.
A particular family in continued need of prayer.
Christopher.
Gene & Janet Grantz.
Rhonda.
Tammy, daughter of Tony Molnar.
Alan Thompson.
Jo Dorsch and the Dorsch family.
Continued healing for Donna Woods, and for Dave.
Peju, Bunmi, and the Okanlami family.
Gina Dudeck & Dale Brucki.
The Raman family.
Milo & Gussie Wietstock, parents of Steve Wietstock.
Mike Jaworski, and Lisa.
Marilyn Klopfenstein.
Tony Molnar.
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.
The Slaubaugh Family
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.