eConnections - May 26, 2023
*Pictured: Cathedral Kids drawing a Pentecost Mural with sidewalk chalk on the
South Side of the Cathedral this past Sunday, May 21
eConnections
Notes & News from the Cathedral of Saint James
May 26, 2023
In this Week's eConnections:
Congregational Building Tours: Next Sunday June 4
Outward and Visible Signs of Welcome at CSJ
Update on Shortcakes on the Blacktop (baking shortcakes finished; bring newspapers/coolers June 4-7; more help needed June 6-8)
St. Margaret's House Undie 500
Episcopalian Day at Four Winds Field
Slaubaugh Farewell Fund
Cathedral Calendar (5/28-6/4)
Making Sunday Worship Happen: Volunteers for this Sunday
For Your Prayers
Imagining Our Future
Several teams formed by the Cathedral Chapter have been at work for awhile now considering our mission, ministry, values, and short- and long-term plans. Here’s what coming up as we continue these exciting conversations.
Sunday, June 4 | Congregational Building Tour
Two Tours: 8:45 am and 11:45 am (starting immediately after each service)
Who are we, what do we have, and what are we doing with it?
Join the parish as we tour our buildings and grounds, pondering these questions and others in conversations reflecting on the past, present, and future of St. James. Food and snacks provided. Childcare will be provided after second service in the Sanctuary.
Tuesday, June 20
Reports to Chapter from Gather & Grow, Church Buildings for Collaborative Partnerships, and Five-Year Plan teams at 5:30 pm.
Love, Actually
Pete & Chasten Buttigieg were actually the third same-sex couple to be married at the Cathedral, not the first. That distinction belongs to Paul Hochstetler and Randy Colburn, who were married here in December 2017. Christopher & Andrew Hillak followed shortly thereafter on St. Patrick’s Day 2018.
The possibility of expanding marriage to include same-sex couples arrived when Doug Sparks became our Bishop Diocesan in June of 2016. Each faith community in Northern Indiana who wanted to consider it was required to enter a period of study and discernment using materials published by the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music of the Episcopal Church. Over a period of several months, the Cathedral community was invited to consider Biblical, theological, historical, and pastoral aspects of marriage. At the end of that process, before voting, the Cathedral Chapter invited all interested persons to an open hearing in August of 2016, at which anyone could speak to the matter as they felt called and led. With no dissenting voices at that hearing, the Chapter engaged in a time of prayer, then voted unanimously to affirm an expansive view of marriage based upon principles of mutual love, support, and companionship as found throughout Holy Scripture.
More broadly, the conversation about same-sex marriage began a long time before our decision in 2017. There is an arc of freedom and justice through the 20th century that included significant movement for women’s rights and minority civil rights, which in due course included LGBTQ+ persons. A parallel theological conversation about full inclusion of women and minorities in the Episcopal Church – which is an ongoing issue, truth be told – followed the same course. For LGBTQ+ persons, the first step over 50 years ago was the church’s affirmation of their full humanity as those beloved of and made in the image of God. Over time, with more and more LGBTQ+ persons emboldened to express themselves and live openly and honestly, the possibility of blessedness and health within their relationships bore testimony to the sacramentality of those relationships. The Episcopal Church opened the 21st century with an affirmation of monogamous, committed relationships as the Biblical standard and the Church’s hope, then spent fifteen years developing marriage rites – which is how Episcopalians work out theology – before authorizing them for use throughout the church. All of which is to say that the decision to authorize same-sex marriage did not happen quickly, but over half a century (or more) and in a much broader context of freedom and justice elbowing its way into every tight fraternity of white, cis-gender, heterosexual men.
What’s interesting now – not in a good way – is the systematic pushback in many halls of power in our nation not only against LGBTQ+ rights, but against women’s and minorities’ rights, as well. Beyond the normal scope of liberal vs. conservative argument, there is a movement afoot that disenfranchises and diminishes others – not just their ideas – but their personhood, often couched in religious language. Jesus, in stark contrast, befriended the sinner and outcast, the poor and the sick, foreigners, women, and every other manner of “untouchable.” Read the Gospels, particularly Luke and John; I’m not making this up. The ultimate point is that God in Christ sees the intrinsic value in every person and is willing to suspend the rules if it means maintaining the relationship with the beloved. That is the scandal of the cross, yes? That God willingly bore the full weight of our sin and brokenness rather than raining down fire on a seriously twisted humanity. Jesus walks with us in love, not condemnation.
And, therefore, so should we.
Blessings,
Brian
Service Opportunities
Shortcakes on the Blacktop Update
Bring Coolers and Newspapers to Church this Sunday
Update on Shortcakes Baking
All the shortcakes have been baked - thanks to the many hands that helped! As a result, we don't need any volunteers for baking tomorrow (Saturday, May 27).
Bring Coolers and Newspapers: June 4-7
We are looking for coolers and newspapers for delivery and strawberry slicing. Please bring these in on Sunday, June 4th at either service or June 6th or 7th during strawberry preparations. Thank you for your help and support!
Volunteers Needed from June 6-8th
We are in need of volunteers to help with strawberry schlepping, slicing; and serving, assembling, and delivering shortcakes. Please see the sign up sheets at the back table in the sanctuary or email the office if you can help: office@stjamessouthbend.org
Purchase Shortcakes Tickets Here.
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.
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
Cathedral Calendar
This Week at CSJ
Sunday, May 28
Pentecost Sunday
Fr. Brian on Mini-Sabbatical
8:00 am Holy Eucharist: Rite One
10:30 am Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
11:45 am Hospitality
Monday, May 29
Administrative Offices Closed
Fr. Brian on Mini-Sabbatical
6:30 pm Education for Ministry
Tuesday, May 30
Administrative Offices: 9 am - 1:30 pm
Fr. Brian on Mini-Sabbatical
Wednesday, May 31
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, June 1
Administrative Offices: 9 am - 1:30 pm
Friday, June 2
Administrative Offices: 9 am - 1:30 pm
12:05 pm Holy Eucharist
Sunday, June 4
First Sunday after Pentecost
8:00 am Holy Eucharist: Rite One
8:45 am Congregational Building Tour
10:30 am Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
11:40 am Congregational Building Tour
11:45 am Hospitality
Looking Ahead
through May 31
The Dean's Mini-Sabbatical:
The Camino Portuguese
Thursday, June 8
Shortcakes on the Blacktop
Sunday, June 25
9:15 am Children's Formation Planning Meeting
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 28
Pentecost Sunday
8:00 am Lector Patty Hans
8:00 am Eucharistic Minister Volunteer Needed
10:30 am Lectors Tom Burman (1) and Nancy Noecker (2)
10:30 am Eucharistic Ministers Cherry Radin and Stephen Drendall
10:30 am Ushers Mike McCrea and Keith LaPierre
10:30 am Hospitality Daughters of the King
Counters: Wednesday, May 31: Elaine Mick and Betsy VanderBurg
Volunteers Needed
Please consider serving Christ and the Church in any of the above roles as we gather for Sunday worship.
For Your Prayers
DeDe Guth
Connor Wilson and family
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.