eConnections eXpress - March 16, 2025
eConnections eXpress
The Weekend of the Second Sunday in Lent
March 16, 2025
The Dean's List
What's with the eXpress?
I spent Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week at a really-quite-good, all-Indiana clergy retreat at Waycross Camp & Conference Center down in Brown County. After getting home late Wednesday afternoon, I had only a little time to prepare eConnections before repacking my bag to head out again early Thursday morning. By the time you read this, the secrecy surrounding my whereabouts during the latter part of this week will no longer be necessary. My father, Gene Grantz, celebrated his 90th birthday on Thursday (March 13), so my older brother and I cooked up a plan for me to show up in Seaford, Delaware, to surprise him in person. I left South Bend early yesterday morning and will - God willing and Southwest Airlines able to fly through Saturday's forecast gusty winds - I will be back in the Bend and ready to go on Sunday morning. I couldn't announce this in Church on Sunday because we livestream to anyone on the planet who wishes to watch, which occasionally includes my parents. Thus, this is an eXpress edition, which may not be easy to tell from the outside, but I know how much I didn't edit :)
The Fifth Anniversary of the Pandemic
March 13 was also the fifth anniversary of the day the world shut down for the COVID-19 pandemic, which I simply want to acknowledge and invite us to remember:
fear of the virus, itself, for which we had little defense or effective treatment in the beginning;
economic uncertainty and hardship, scarcity of resources, and isolation from friends and family;
sickness, loss of taste and smell, fever, overwhelming fatigue, and quarantine;
hospitalizations of parishioners and friends who could not receive visitors;
PPE scarcity, confusion, and profiteering;
frustration, anger, and deep division over government and institutional responses;
sporting events in empty stadiums and arenas; livestreamed worship; and Zoom meetings;
masks, hand-sanitizer, particle barriers, 6-foot separation, alternating pews, and worship registration;
drive-up tests, rapid tests, home tests, and - eventually - vaccines;
death, including people we knew and cared for; 1,219,487 deaths in the United States alone;
plus the mercurial and debilitating effects of long-COVID.
and... extraordinary creativity, compassion, service, sharing, and adaptability amid circumstances that often changed daily.
May our hearts be filled with gratitude for better days.
Story & Song Stories
Registration for the Story & Song Retreat next weekend is now closed, but there is a very important role remaining for those who are not registered. We will be asking for four to six participant volunteers who would be willing to share the stories they have been working on not only with those who attend the retreat, but with the broader congregation, as well. To that end, all are invited to come for the closing of the Story & Song retreat next Saturday, March 22 to hear where God is at work in the lives of those whose faith and life stories you may not know. The Church doors will open at 6 pm; storytelling will begin at 6:30 pm, wrapping up around 7:30 pm. Registration is not necessary. Come here what God is up to in our midst.
Blessings,
Brian
Let Us Pray: Called to Common Prayer. Continuing last year's practice, we are hoping to open the Cathedral for prayer every day during Lent. Volunteer officiants, readers, and musicians are needed lead the Daily Office. Click here to view the schedule and sign up. Click here for the readings and collects appointed for each service.
40 Days through Isaiah & Luke. A daily discipline of Scripture reading through the book of the prophet Isaiah and the Gospel according to Luke. Click here for the reading schedule.
A Lenten Century. Exercise is a great opportunity for contemplation and prayer. The Lenten Century is both an invitation and challenge to keep moving. 100 miles, 100 kilometers, or whatever number is right for you, let's get up and get going walking, running, cycling, swimming, or anything else. Click here for a Lenten Century log sheet.
Living Matthew 25. This community-wide effort offers dozens of opportunities from a host of sponsors from which to pick and choose. The Living Matthew 25 schedule is available here and is posted at several places at the Cathedral of Saint James.
Lent Madness. Learn saints whose faith has been an example and inspiration for generations of Christians in this wonderful, whimsical March-Madness style bracket featuring 32 notable faithful followers of Jesus as they vie for the "Golden Halo." Click here for the Lent Madness website.
Upcoming Adult Forums
March 23rd Inclusion in the Eucharist: A History of Inclusion in the Book of Common Prayer with Jack Consolie
March 30th Inclusion in the Eucharist: Living Out an Anglican Tradition with Jack Consolie
Saturday, March 29 @ 7:30 pm
Faculty conductor Cynthia Katsarelis from Notre Dame’s Sacred Music program leads a special collaboration with the South Bend Symphony Orchestra and South African soprano Goitsemang Lehobye. The program features Nkeiru Okoye’s Songs of Harriet Tubman and Louise Farrenc’s Third Symphony. There will be a pre-concert conversation at 6:30.
For more information and tickets, please click here.
Cathedral
Calendar
Saturday, March 15
9:00 am
Morning Prayer
10:00 am
Diocese of Northern Indiana Commission on Ministry
Sunday, March 16
The Second Sunday in Lent
8:00 am
Holy Eucharist: Rite One
9:15 am
Growing in Our Worship
Story Makers
Adult Forum
10:30 am
Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
11:45 am
Hospitality
12:00 pm
Youth Group
Monday, March 17
Cathedral Office: Closed
5:00 pm
Evening Prayer
6:00 pm
Education for Ministry
Tuesday, March 18
Cathedral Office: 9 am - 1:30 pm
8:00 am
Morning Prayer
6:30 pm
Chapter Meeting
Wednesday, March 19
Cathedral Office: 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
5:00 pm
Evening Prayer
7:00 pm
Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, March 20
Cathedral Office: 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
8:00 am
Morning Prayer
Friday, March 21
Cathedral Office: by appointment
Joe Anand-Obleton Out of the Office
12:05 pm
Holy Eucharist
1:00 pm
Community Lunch at Grill 362
5:00 pm
Story & Song Retreat
Saturday, March 22
8:00 am
Story & Song Retreat
6:30 pm
Story Sharing with the Cathedral Community
Sunday, March 23
The Third Sunday in Lent
8:00 am
Holy Eucharist: Rite One
9:15 am
Growing in Our Worship
Story Makers
Adult Forum
10:30 am
Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
11:45 am
Hospitality
12:00 pm
Youth Group
Looking Ahead
Dining Out Group
Thursday, March 27
Episcopal & Lutheran Renewal of Ordination Vows &
Blessing of the Holy Oils
ELCA Indiana-Kentucky Synod Bishop Timothy Graham, preacher
Thursday, April 10
Collect for the Second in Lent
(March 16)
O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Mar 17 Christopher & Andrew Hillak
Mar 18 Megan & Philip Drendall
Mar 17 Alice McCrea
Mar 18 Mtr. Teunisje Velthuizen
Mar 19 Helene Dauerty-Randles
Mar 20 Michael Anand-Obleton
Mar 21 Lisa Philippsen
Remembering also those who have gone
into the nearer presences of God:
Mar 21 Ginger Bitner (78)
Mar 21 Leon Smith (99)
Mar 22 Nancy Demler (93)
Cathedral Prayer List
For the participants and team of the Story & Song retreat.
For the repose of the soul of Wade Sheets; and for his wife, Sue.
For the repose of the soul of Tammy, daughter of Tony Molnar; and for Tony and his family.
For James Ellar, high school classmate of Mike Jaworski, who has a recurrence of cancer.
For Greg, cousin of Alison Grantz, whose leukemia prognosis is now, sadly, terminal following two unsuccessful bone marrow transplants. Please pray for Alison's mother, Cheryl, and the Gotsch family.
For Marci & Kevin, friends of Patty Hans
Janet Subbert, aunt of Nan Noecker
For Karen Slack and John Slack
Josh Young, Kerrin Young, and Violet Young
For Tim Lane and Dan (sons-in-law of Karen Slack) who are recovering from surgery and for Corrine, Tim’s wife.
For Elaine Mick
For the Proffitt Family and for the Hillman Family
Ann and Bill Young
Corey Davis and Kenya Pearson
Steven Mast
Mary Brooks
Jamie, Mimi, Joely, Mia, and the entire Jeter Family
Bill Jones and his family
For Mary Beth Wright
Kathleen Murphy, mother of Jen Mosley; and for Richard Murphy Jr., Richard Murphy III, and for Jill Bird
Mary M. Burman
Carolynn Raney
For Carl and Melinda Stopczynski; and for Alison Abbot -- cousins/extended family of Mike & Lisa Jaworski
For Joan Machatton
Jennifer & Mike Mosley
Jim Arns
For Cindy Ahlgrim
For Joni Carlson, who continues treatment of an ongoing issue
For Mike Jaworski and for Lisa.
For Michael, son of Diane Hoist, and his family.
For Joseph Hilliard
For Tim Haywood, and Janice
Fred & Kate Mast
Paula Fowler
Canon Tina Velthuizen's grand-nephew, Jordan, who is struggling
Connor Gibbons
Olivia, who has leukemia, and her family
Sheila & family
Tammy, daughter of Tony Molnar
Alan Thompson
Tony Molnar
Dan & Gail Mandell
Ron Gunn
Alissa Broussara
Cherryl Andries
Becky Ballentine
Marge Johnson
Jo Dorsch
Sharron McGowan
Joyce Marchant
Fr. Paul Tracy
Richard Bitner
Al Caparell; Tony Lemna; Mike; Denise & Demetrius
For those expecting children: Connor Wilson and Genesis Dylewski
For those who are traveling, especially Mtr. Tina Velthuizen and Betsy VanderBurg
For those preparing for Holy Baptism: Grayson Woodruff, son of Lesley & Ryan Woodruff.
For those preparing for Holy Orders: Nan Noecker, diaconate, diaconate
How may we pray for you? To add (or remove) a petition from the Cathedral Prayer List, please send an email to Deacon Clay Berkley. If you are requesting prayer for someone else, please make sure you have their permission to add their name and any details to the prayer list.
Ministries
March 16, 2025
8:00 am
Lector Patty Hans
Eucharistic Minister Nan Noecker
10:30 am
Lectors Tamisyn Grantz & Dominic Vitale-Richards
Acolytes Scottie Peters, Bear Kallenberg, Cynthia Katsarelis
Eucharistic Ministers Ed Randles & Helene Dauerty-Randles
Ushers Keith LaPierre & Nicole Pinter
Hospitality Host Lisa Philippsen
Linen Care Celeste Hilliard
March 18
Counters Mary Lehman & Peg Swadener
March 21
Folder Norris Whitfield
Copyright © 2025 The Cathedral of Saint James, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.
Our mailing address is:
The Cathedral of Saint James
117 N Lafayette Blvd
South Bend, IN 46601-1507
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.