VOLUME 1, ISSUE 41 OCTOBER 31, 2019

Feast of All Saints' Day SCRIPTURE READINGS Daniel 7:1-3,15-18 Psalm 149 Ephesians 1:11-23 Luke 6:20-31 8:00AM SERVICE Preacher: Canon Anna Celebrant: Dean Ryan 10:00AM SERVICE Usher: Nick Miller & Ed Race Lector: Katherine Nelson EM: Peter Cabbiness & Kourinthia Burton Preacher: Canon Anna Celebrant: Dean Ryan

FOOD BANK 2nd-4th Wednesdays @ 2:30PM THE COTTAGE SHOP Wednesdays 12:30PM - 4:30PM 1st-3rd Sat. @ 9:00AM-1:00PM CHOIR REHEARSAL Thursdays @ 6:30PM FOOD BANK: TJ FOOD DISTRIBUTION Sundays after 10AM Service (White Room) MEN'S BREAKFAST SAT. NOV. 2 @ 7:30AM Yosemite Falls Cafe BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS MEETING SAT. NOV. 2 @ 9:00AM-11:00AM Conference Room PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING SUN. NOV. 3 @ 11:30AM-1:00PM Conference Room IMMIGRATION TASK FORCE SUN. NOV. 9 @ 11:00AM-2:00PM Fireside Room ORDINATION OF TOM HAMPSON SUN. NOV 16 @ 11:00AM St. James Cathedral CHAPTER MEETING SUN. NOV. 17 @ 12:00PM-2:30PM Conference Room

THE DEACONS DISCUSS PRAYER Part 2: Intercessory Prayer

Intercession can be thought of as “…part of an unending song to God, our creator, sanctifier, and redeemer,” according to Deacon Ormonde Plater, in his book entitled “Intercession: A theological and practice guide.” We make our intercessions on Sundays through the Prayers of the People, lifting to God our prayers for all in need.  Our acts of prayer give us the opportunity to:  Adore and praise God Give thanks Confess sins Ask for mercy Intercede for others Following the example of Christ, it is both our sacred duty and our grace-filled privilege to bring the needs of individuals and communities to God in prayer. In making intercession, we not only express our love for those we pray for, but also make testament to our faith that God cares for all creation. And, in our interceding, we not only ask for God’s help, but we make our offering of help as co-creators in God’s holy dream, as participants in this healing. As we said last week, the words of Pope Francis described our role saying, "You pray for the hungry. Then you feed them. This is how prayer works." Through our intercessions, we giving thanks to God for the creation of those we pray for, and ask God for mercy, justice, peace, and forgiveness. Plater points out that in our naming, we are blessing God for those we name. The association between naming and blessing is found throughout the New and Old Testaments, and is found in our sacraments – such as Holy Baptism. In fact, on January 1 we commemorate the naming of Jesus through the “Feast of the Holy Name.” People of all faiths make daily, private, intercessions. Our response to learning about the sickness or death of a loved one is most likely an intercessory prayer, asking God for healing and blessing. Or, prayers may be more formal, such as prayers of Muslims multiple times during the day, or prayers of the hours, such as those observed by monastic orders. Some of us set time aside time each day, perhaps upon waking or before sleep, to pray for a list of people, or communities known to us. Private intercession is the loving practice and offering of all people of faith.

During our communal worship, we Episcopalians pray for members of our church family, the world, the church, and our communities through our Prayers of the People. These prayers belong to the assembly, and represent the personal prayers of the congregation. The Book of Common Prayer offers several scripted forms for Prayers of the People, as examples, with the intention that the Church compose prayers specific to their communities and context within the the categories provided: The Universal Church The Nation and all in authority The welfare of the world The concerns of the local community Those who suffer and those in any trouble The departed The deacon leads these prayers, with the intention that the intercessions themselves are offered by the people. The deacon may mention communities in dire need (such as members who are seriously ill or who have died, or victims of natural disasters, mass shootings, or a particular group in need), but the list should be moderate and focus on the direst needs. In response to these offerings by the deacon, the people offer their individual prayers, preferably aloud. It is this active participation of the congregation that makes these offerings true prayers of the people.  Through our baptism, we become part of the “priesthood of all believers.” As part of this holy priesthood, we enter into a life of habitual, continual prayer in private and in community. We each are commissioned as pray-ers. Thanks be to God!  Deacon Nancy and Deacon Terrance

This Sunday, November 3rd, is daylight savings! Remember to set your clocks back one hour.

ADVENT EDUCATION SERIES Four-part series explores the Gospel Stories of Advent

St. James will be hosting a four-part “deep dive” Scripture study on the Advent Gospel lessons. The class will meet on Monday evening starting November 25th and conclude on December 16th. Co-facilitated by the Dean and the Deacons, the class will look ahead to the upcoming Gospel reading for Sunday. Each session will explore in-depth the Gospel reading and its overall connection to the themes of Advent. The group’s questions and discussion will be instrumental in shaping the sermon for Sunday. Mondays will begin at 6:00PM with Eucharist in the Chapel. Followed by a light dinner being served at 6:30PM in the White Room. The class will begin at 7:00PM in the White Room and conclude no later 8:30PM. We are asking for participants to pre-register for the education series. You can register online or there will be a sign-up sheet at the entrance of the Chapel/Cathedral for the next couple of Sundays. SERIES OUTLINE November 25th: Watchfulness  Matthew 24:36-44. Jesus reminds the Disciples about the necessity for watchfulness. December 2nd: Repentance Matthew 3:1-12. John the Baptist preaches repentance as we prepare for the coming of the Lord. December 9th: The Messenger and the Messiah Matthew 11:2-11. John the Baptist presses Jesus on his identity. December 16th: Prelude to the Birth of the Messiah Matthew 1:18-25. An angel foretells of Jesus’ birth

REGISTER FOR ADVENT EDUCATION SERIES

CHRISTMAS 2019 SCHEDULE Cathedral adds a Children's Service

This Christmas at St. James will feature a new service--a 4:00PM Children's Service. The Children's Service is designed to support families who want a Christmas worship experience accessible to the whole family, especially for the youngest kids. The service will be simple, relaxed, family-friendly, and will run about 35-40 minutes. Eucharist will be celebrated at the service. Dean Ryan will offer a children-focused message. Additionally, per tradition, we offer Christmas Eve Services at 6PM and 11PM that will include music and all of the beautiful Christmas traditions. The late service will begin at 10:30PM with a Carol Prelude--we will sing a collection of our favorite Christmas hymns. On Christmas Day, we will offer a service at 9:00AM in the Chapel.

WORSHIP MINISTER SCHEDULE

Kourinthia has been working diligently on creating a Worship Minister Schedule. For all of those who serve during on Sundays as Lector, Eucharistic Minister, or Usher this schedule will allow you to: Know when you will be asked to serve Alert Kourinthia to any scheduling conflicts Find out who other worship ministers are when looking to trade Sundays in case of an emergency. If you have any scheduling conflicts or would like to know how to get involved in Ushering, Lectoring, or becoming a Eucharistic Minister email Kourinthia.

Click Here to View the November/December Schedule

From the Greek for "to follow"; an Acolyte is a liturgical assistant who serves as crucifer, torchbearer, banner-bearer, book-bearer, candle-lighter, and server. Being and Acolyte is a great way for the young (and the young at heart) to become more involved in the Worship Service. Acolyte's are an important part of both Special Services like Christmas and Easter, and regular Sunday worship services. St. James will be dedicating Sunday, December 8 to Acolyte training. Training will be from 11:30AM-1:30PM, lunch will be provided. If you are interested in getting more information on becoming an Acolyte click below to send us an email.

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This week at the Cathedral we observed Noonday Prayer on Wednesday. Bishop David Rice led the service and spoke on remembering our call as both clergy and laypersons. This week was special because not only were we holding our Noonday Prayer service, we were also celebrating Halloween. The Bishop dressed as Bruce Wayne and Batman. Canon Anna put a spell on us as a witch. Dean Ryan was a magical, unicorn priest. Deacon Terrance added an angelic touch to the proceedings. And both administrators, Kourinthia and Angela, went dressed as each other.

St. James CROP Hunger Walk Team has collected $1377 to date, surpassing our modest $1000 goal and approximately matching our 2018 collections, but donations are still welcome online at: CropHungerWalk-Fresno Team

The St. James community is invited to attend and Interfaith Thanksgiving Service Sunday, November 24 at 5:30 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno, 2672 E Alluvial Ave, Fresno, CA 93720, sponsored by The Interfaith Alliance of Central California. The Music Director at the UU Church is organizing the choir for the event and invites any musically oriented folks to sing with the pickup choir for the event with a rehearsal at 4:00.

ORDINATION AT THE CATHEDRAL God willing and the people consenting, Tom Hampson will be ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons on Saturday, November 16th at 11:00AM. All are welcome.

CHOIR REHEARSALS Choir have resumed rehearsing on Thursday evenings, 6:30PM-8:00PM, in the Chapel. If you are interested in joining Choir, please come to rehearsal. For more information, please contact Sherah.

BIBLE STUDY- THE BOOK OF REVELATION The mid-week Bible Study has returned. The study is led by Emily Niblick and meets weekly on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, 10:00AM to 11:00AM, in the Fireside Room.

MEN'S GROUP The next breakfast gathering is scheduled for Saturday, November 2nd, 7:30AM at Yosemite Falls Cafe (across from the Cathedral).

BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE The next meeting will be Saturday, November 2nd, at 9:00AM in the Conference Room.

CHAPTER MEETING The November meeting is scheduled for Sunday, November 17th, 12:00PM - 2:30PM in the Conference Room.

CATHEDRAL THANKSGIVING LUNCHEON The Cathedral will be providing a Thanksgiving lunch the Sunday before Thanksgiving in Zoe Eden following the 10AM service on November 24th.

Boston Cathedral "house of prayer" for Muslim Community Ayman Bassyouni arrives early at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul around noon each Friday to lay 15 rows of silk prayer rugs end to end on the sanctuary’s floor. An Egyptian, Bassyouni regularly attends jumah, or Friday prayers, at the Episcopal cathedral. He is one of a few hundred men and a handful of women – mostly immigrants from North Africa, South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East and the Balkans – who pray there together.

Hondurans learn trade as part of Diocesan partnership John DeLancey serves as a missionary in Honduras but describes himself more precisely as a project manager. From Mississippi, DeLancey is a glassblower by trade and now a teacher, and his ultimate goal is to make his assistance to fellow Episcopalians in the Diocese of Honduras obsolete.

Common ground found at Alabama church Shirley Fifield, 88, has attended services at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Montgomery since 1973. A widow whose family roots are in Wisconsin, she attends the Sunday morning Eucharist at All Saints’, and she speaks only English. Gabriel Rosales, 25, and his wife, Rosalba Barrera, 19, are fluent in three languages, including Spanish and an indigenous Mexican language known as Mixtec. They began attending the Sunday afternoon Spanish-language service at All Saints’ about six months ago and since then have had two of their children baptized here.

Queer hymn collection resource for LGBTQ+ and Allies Music played a healing role for many Anglicans after an amendment to the marriage canon that would have recognized same-sex marriage failed to pass at General Synod 2019. After the vote in Vancouver, queer youth delegates sang a round affirming the need to “love each other, love yourself and love your God” and were joined in song by many supporters. The next day, they sang the same round in protest outside Christ Church Cathedral, where the primatial election took place.

Churches feed hundreds daily after Hurricane Dorian Churches in the Bahamas are helping feed hundreds of people left with nothing after their homes were swept away last month in Hurricane Dorian. A report from the Bishop of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Island, Laish Boyd, has catalogued the damage to churches, church properties and their members and also reveals how many churches are continuing to provide a lifeline to communities..

Burundian youth trained in peace building As Burundi gears up for elections next year and the threat of further unrest, the Anglican Church has been helping prepare its young people to promote peace and reconciliation. Young people under 15 make up almost half of Burundi’s total population, and with high unemployment they are viewed as vulnerable to all sorts of manipulation in a volatile political situation.

If you have any feedback, comments, or questions for the Midweek Missive Editors, please email us . Submissions to the Midweek Missive are welcomed and must be submitted to midweek@stjamesfresno.org by Tuesday at noon.

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