Volume 1, Issue 2

December 26, 2018

THIS SUNDAY @ ST. JAMES CHRISTMAS 1 - DECEMBER 30 Scripture Readings Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Psalm 147:13-21 Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 John 1:1-18 8:00AM Lector: Glenn Reed Preacher: Rev. Jim Celebrant: Dean Ryan 10:00AM Usher: TBD Lector: Janie Fisher Eucharist Minister: TBD Preacher: Rev. Jim Celebrant: Dean Ryan 

UPCOMING DATES Cathedral Office Closed December 25 - January 1 Feast of the Holy Name Tuesday, January 1 - 9:00AM Men's Group Breakfast Saturday, January 5 - 7:00AM Yosemite Falls Cafe Chapter Meeting Sunday, January 13 - 11:30AM Combined Service Sunday, January 20 - 9:00AM Annual Meeting of the Cathedral Congregation Sunday, January 20 - 10:30AM

Christmas at the Cathedral

Christmas Cheer

The Cathedral Team came together for another episode of the "Carthedra," but this time the group needed the extra space of the "Dean's Machine." We invite you to check out the video below for some holiday fun . . . (This group isn't going to win "American Idol!") MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Electronic Service Programs Available

This month, St. James introduced a redesigned Sunday Service Program. The programs contain the entire service including the music. In addition, programs are available in regular size and large print. We hope the new program designed improves your overall worship experience. Another big reason for the redesign is to offer guests to the Cathedral and newcomers a more user-friendly introduction to our Episcopal services. "At St. James we print the entire service each Sunday in the program as a matter of hospitality, accessibility, and convenience. Without a service program, we would be leafing through as many as five hymnals, the Book of Common Prayer, the Bible, and a spare leaflet with prayers and so on," said Dean Ryan Newman. "It would be extremely frustrating and could negatively impact someone’s overall worship experience." "However, we must identify and offer ways to minimize our impact on the precious resources of the environment," said Dean Ryan.  We are happy to introduce the next step--"Paperless Service Program" initiative. The program's goal is to encourage members of the Cathedral Congregation to download the Sunday service program onto their mobile device (iPhone, iPad, Kindle, etc.) in an effort to minimize our environmental footprint. "The Paperless Service Program is a small step in the right direction," said Dean Ryan. A download link is available each week in the Midweek Missive under the "This Sunday" section. In addition, the Sunday program can be downloaded by visiting: https://stjamesfresno.org/programs/

Give me your tired, your persecuted A call to assist Central American refugees A pastoral letter issued by the Bishops in California in conjunction with the Episcopal Public Policy Network of California

In recent days, over 6,000 migrants have gathered at the California-Mexico border fence seeking appointments with American immigration officials to petition for asylum. With wait times projected to last for months, many are forced to live in shelters where food is scarce, and privacy is non-existent, and some become sick.    When large numbers of people cross borders to flee persecution, war, and disaster, they are considered refugees in the world's eyes, and many nations build refugee camps or absorb migrating people, helping families to resettle and educate the children. Presently, U.S. immigration officials admit 40-100 asylum seekers into California each day, recognizing the credible fear of danger and death if migrants return to their home nations. These young families tell stories of death threats and kidnapping threats to them and their children.   As Christians during the season of Advent, we recognize the ancient echo of the Holy Family's flight into Egypt, when Mary and Joseph hid the infant Jesus from the murderous Herod. We also recognize our obligation to help the oppressed and the homeless. We urge our fellow Episcopalians to appeal to government officials to speed up the processing of asylum seekers and to provide adequate shelters and legal assistance in the U.S. for recent immigrants.   We also encourage our fellow Episcopalians to work locally to provide shelter, legal aid, material support, and advocacy for asylum seekers. One way to help is to donate to organizations such as Al Otro Lado, which connects immigrants with medical and legal services, and San Diego Rapid Response Network, which provides temporary shelter and travel assistance to asylum seekers.   Let's work together to create a more compassionate immigration system and to alleviate the suffering of our neighbors.   Episcopal Public Policy Network of California Signed in Cooperation, The Rt. Rev. Marc Andrus, Bishop, Diocese of California The Rt. Rev. Barry L. Beisner, Bishop, Diocese of Northern California The Rt. Rev. John Taylor, Bishop, Diocese of Los Angeles The Rt. Rev. Diane Jardine Bruce, Bishop Suffragan, Diocese of Los Angeles The Rt. Rev. Mary Gray-Reeves, Bishop, Diocese of El Camino Real The Rt. Rev. David Rice, Bishop, The Diocese of San Joaquin The Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Assisting Bishop, The Diocese of San Diego

BIBLE STUDY BEGINS IN JANUARY  by Emily Niblick

Tobit, Baruch, Bel and the Dragon, Judith…have you heard of these books and others which are included in the Old Testament in some bibles?  These and others are incorporated into the Roman Catholic bible as part of the Old Testament. In the Anglican view, and generally of the Protestant faiths, they are separated from the Old Testament in their own section. Located between the Old Testament and the New, they are referred to as the Apocrypha. The word apocrypha means “hidden” in Greek, and although they haven’t exactly been hidden throughout history, the Greek part is the reason they are apart from the Hebrew Bible. For these books fall within what we call the “inter-testamental period”, or roughly, the post-exilic period through the first century CE. Almost all of the Old Testament is written in Hebrew, but these books are from a time of great Hellenic influence and are written in Greek with some Aramaic. They are not included in the Hebrew Tanakh, or what we refer to as the Old Testament. But when the seventy Jewish scholars gathered in this period to translate the Jewish scriptures into Greek (called the Septuagint), they included these writings. Hence, when the Christian father Jerome sat down to translate the Hebrew Bible into Latin (using the Septuagint) he also translated these books we call the apocrypha. And so they were included in the Vulgate, or the Latin bible commissioned by the Roman church. Since to Protestants these books are not considered canonical, most people have either never heard of them or read them. And yet, the understanding expressed by Protestant churches has always been that they are beneficial to read. The Anglican church has been friendlier than most—lectionary readings from the apocrypha have been included in the Book of Common Prayer since 1549. There is a lot to be discovered here. The books of the apocrypha were quite familiar to the Jewish leaders and thinkers during the ministry of Jesus. Although there are no quotes from any of the apocryphal books in the New Testament, there are allusions to apocryphal writings. it is well known that the early Christians were very familiar with them. Many of the ideas Jesus talked about are also mentioned in the apocrypha.  I am encountering the problem of picking the day of the week that fits most people. I am presently thinking of Friday, January 11th at 10:30AM in the Fireside Room. If you think you would like to attend this study, please drop me a line at emilyeniblick@gmail.com .  I would like to know what you think, if Friday is good for you, and how many are interested. Everyone is welcome to attend.  This will be an introductory course; we will not be going in depth into any of the books, but will learn about the background and context of each book, along with its impact on Christian thought. We will study important parts of each book, hopefully giving us an idea of the author’s intention and what we can take away from it to help us in our faith lives.

Pastoral Care Update St. James has established an Emergency Pastoral Care Phone Number that is available 24 hours a day. Whenever you have an emergency need for support, please call (559) 601-0476 and leave a voice mail. The system, powered by Google Voice, will immediately forward the information to the clergy of the Cathedral who will respond to each request. Dean Ryan, Deacon Nancy, and Deacon Terrance will be sharing pastoral care coverage.  In the future, we hope to develop a Pastoral Care Team, comprised both of the Cathedral clergy and trained lay leaders, who will minister to the pastoral needs of our Cathedral family. If you might be interested in this ministry, please speak to a member of the clergy.  If you prefer, you may send an electronic pastoral care request via email to PASTORALCARE@STJAMESFRESNO.ORG We highly recommend everyone store in their mobile devices the St. James Pastoral Emergency Phone Number: (559) 601-0476.

Celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord Epiphany is an ancient church feast marking the Magi’s visit to the infant Jesus, bringing him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. It is celebrated on January 6th—marking the end of Christmas. St. James invites your family to join us on Sunday, January 6th, at 10:00AM for an Epiphany Eucharistic Celebration which will include “The Blessing of Chalk for Home Blessings.” The service will be a simple, family-centered liturgy. What is the “Blessing of Chalk?” The chalking of the doors is a centuries-old practice throughout the world. Dean Ryan will bless chalk that service participants will then take home and write in chalk the following above the entrance of their home: 20 + C+M + B + 19. The letters have two meanings. First, they represent the initials of the Magi - Caspar, Malchior, and Balthazar - who came to visit Jesus in His first home. They also abbreviate the Latin phrase, Christus mansionem benedicat: “May Christ bless the house.” The “+” signs represent the cross, and the “20” at the beginning and the “19” at the end mark the year. Taken together, this inscription is performed as a request that Christ to bless those homes. We ask for Christ’s blessing on our homes and on all who live, work or visit them there. The chalking of the doors of a home encourages Christians to dedicate their life at home to God and to others. Seeing the symbols over our doors can help to remind us, while passing in and out on our daily routines, that our homes and all those who dwell there belong to Christ.

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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