A service focusing on reconciliation, with message by Rabbi Sarah Mack. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.

Choral and instrumental performances by students from the Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School, and other guest performers. NOTE: This will be the first public event in the nave in the Cathedral in quite some time.

A worship service commemorating Black History Month and two historical black figures: the Rev. Absalom Jones and Peter Quire, the founder of St. John's. A collection to support historically Black colleges will be received.

An exhibit of representations of reconciliation in the graphic and visual arts with music and dialogue. The exhibit will be organized by Steven Pennell, coordinator of the University of Rhode Island (URI) Providence Campus Arts and Culture program and presented in partnership with the URI Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Education and Professional Studies.

Registration is now open for the 2018 camp season at the Episcopal Conference Center (ECC). Register today to take advantage of extended payment plans and, most importantly, to secure your spot.

New this year is a special discount: introduce ECC to a new friend, and receive a $25 friend discount!

As always, scholarship aid is available; you can indicate your interest during the registration process.

Again this summer, the camp is offering programs for all ages. Learn more on the ECC website ( http://www.eccri.org/campprograms/).

Any questions about registration can be directed to Sara Clarke at  sara@eccri.org or during normal business hours at 401-568-4055.

The Cathedral of St. John has expanded its capacity to serve as a ministry base for several groups. The Center for Reconciliation and the staff of  Rhode Island for Community and Justice ( www.RICJ.org) are moving in the office wing. 

RICJ is an organization that shares the CFR's mission of racial reconciliation and offers programs for teens, which expands the age range beyond what CFR does. These two organizations join the Church Beyond the Walls, which has been using the office wing as its home base for the past couple of years. They will be moving into a renovated kitchen for more appropriate meal preparation space. 

Together these three organizations will bring new life to the Cathedral. Although there will not be a typical Sunday morning congregation, the diocese is launching a new young adult ministries program this spring that will be based at the Cathedral and we hope will have programs and worship at what are likely to be atypical hours for church services! 

An Open House to welcome RICJ and celebrate this new life is scheduled for January 22--watch for details.

"It isn't pretty, but it is clean, safe and useable," said Bishop Knisely at a recent Clergy Day event held in the Cathedral parish hall. That event led to a group of clergy deciding to offer Compline once a month, starting in March. 

Meanwhile, the CFR is sponsoring programs both in the main church and in the parish hall, along with exhibits on loan from Brown University's Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice and from the Little Compton Historical Society. 

Slowly but surely, the Cathedral is coming back to life and engaging the Rhode Island community in a wide range of programs. Watch for more announcements of programs you can join. 

Volunteers willing to help with painting, cleaning, making repairs, program support, etc., should contact the Rev. Linda L. Grenz, canon to the ordinary, at Linda@episcopalri.org. The Cathedral Chapter welcomes volunteers and contributions to help get our Cathedral serving our Rhode Island community again.