Volume 1, Issue 4
January 10, 2019
THIS SUNDAY @ ST. JAMES
EPIPHANY 1 - January 13th
Isaiah 43:1-7
Psalm 29
Acts 8:14-17
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

8:00AM
Lector: Peter Openshaw
Preacher: Deacon Nancy
Celebrant: Dean Ryan

10:00AM
Usher: The Cantrells
Lector: Peter Cabbiness
Eucharist Minister: Peter Cabbiness
Preacher: Deacon Nancy
Celebrant: Dean Ryan

UPCOMING DATES
Bible Study on the Apocrypha
Thursday, January 10 - 10:30AM
Fireside Room

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

Feast of the Presentation of our Lord (Candlemas)
Saturday, February 2 - 6:00PM
Worship Ministries, Part One (Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers)
Each week, in both the “Midweek Missive” and “The Gold Sheet” we will spotlight different ministries of the Cathedral. Our ministries are the lifeblood of the Cathedral’s mission and vision and they empower us to be the Church between Sundays. Amid our journey to grow and continue thriving, we need others to share their time, energy, wisdom, and leadership in the Cathedral’s ministries. We hope you will be inspired by and called to serve in one or more of the ministries featured throughout the season of Epiphany.

LECTORS (READERS)
A very important part of our worship experience is hearing the stories of our faith and the wisdom of Holy Scripture. As a Lector, you have an opportunity to assist with the liturgy by reading the scripture lessons from the Old and New Testament and leading the congregation in the Psalm. The Lector ministry is ideal for anyone who enjoys both public speaking and the opportunity to share the Word of God. Lectors serve at all of the Sunday services, weekday services, and special services like Christmas, Holy Week, and Easter. Readings are available in advance—giving plenty of time to practice! If you are interested in sharing God’s word through this exciting ministry, please sign-up at the Ministry Table located at the entrance of the Cathedral or contact Dean Ryan .

  • Who: All adults and youth in fourth grade or older who enjoy public reading.

  • Time involved: Lectors are typically scheduled to read every 4-6 weeks. Please arrive about 10 minutes before the scheduled service to check the lectern for the reading(s).
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS
A Eucharistic Minister is a lay person authorized to administer the consecrated elements at a Celebration of Holy Eucharist. To serve the sacrament of Christ’s precious Body and Blood to our brothers and sisters is a profound spiritual privilege beyond measure. We are entrusted to carry the Gifts of God to the People of God with the Love of God. Eucharistic Ministers are required to participate in a training session every three years and are then licensed by the Bishop for service at the altar. Eucharistic Minister can serve at Sunday services, weekday services, and special services like Christmas, Holy Week, and Easter. If you are interested in serving as a Eucharistic Minister, please sign-up at the Ministry Table located at the entrance of the Cathedral or contact Dean Ryan .

  • Who: All baptized adults and youth in seventh grade or older.

  • Time Involved: EMs typically serve about once per month.


EUCHARISTIC VISITOR 
A Eucharistic Visitor is a lay person authorized to take the Consecrated Elements in a timely manner following a Celebration of Holy Eucharist to members of the congregation who, by reason of illness or infirmity, were unable to be present at the Celebration. The Eucharistic Visitor (EV) extends the altar, and thus the life and fullness of the Church community, to those who cannot be present at worship by taking the Sacrament to them following any public celebration of the Holy Eucharist. A Eucharistic Visitor should normally act under the direction of the Deacons or the Dean.

Eucharistic Visitors are required to participate in both the Eucharistic Minister and Eucharistic Visitor training sessions every three years. In addition, EVs are expected to participate in the Safe Church Training Program. It is highly recommended a Eucharistic Visitor has a driver's license and their own vehicle. Eucharistic Visitors always make pastoral visits in pairs. If you are interested in serving as a Eucharistic Visitor, please sign-up at the Ministry Table located at the entrance of the Cathedral or contact Dean Ryan .

  • Who: All baptized adults 18+.

  • Time Involved: As needed. Typically, EVs are contacted by the Deacons toward the end of the week, if there is a visit to be scheduled.

Both a Eucharistic Minister and Eucharistic Visitor Training Session will be scheduled at the Cathedral before Holy Week. Stay-tuned for more details.
"TO SHARE OUR GIFTS" PRAYER
in this Season of Epiphany

All that we are, all that we have, and all that we will become is a gift from God. Gracious and loving Creator, do not let us neglect Your Spirit or the gifts You have bestowed upon us. Give us the courage to share these gifts with our Cathedral community and beyond. Grant that we might exercise our gifts with humility and to Your glory alone. O God, help us to see the good work You have ready for us, teach us to embrace that work with willingness and joy, and may we always faithfully share with your beloved creation the many gifts you have entrusted to us. We pray with grateful hearts, in the name of the One true light and hope, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
MINISTRIES OF THE DEACON
Part One: Proclaiming the Gospel
Dean Ryan has asked us deacons at St. James to write a series for the Missive about our liturgical functions and how they tie to our work in the world between services – the Monday through Saturday ministry he referenced in his Epiphany sermon. We will begin this series with our first liturgical function, Proclaiming the Gospel.
 
When deacons are ordained, we affirm to the bishop that we will study the Holy Scriptures, to seek nourishment from them, and to model [our] life upon them. [We] are to make Christ and his redemptive love known, by … word and example, to those among whom [we] live, and work, and worship.
 
One way we do this is through “proclaiming” the gospel. The word “proclaim” is related to the Greek word, “kerygma,” meaning to preach, announce or proclaim, as a herald. So deacons don’t merely “read” the Gospel – they announce it as God’s Good News, and they preach it. To proclaim the Gospel lifts it out of a mere reading to a living out, and a teaching.
 
The Gospel – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – is central to us as Christians because these four books chronicle the life of Jesus, who through his incarnation makes God known to us. While we read, study and inwardly digest all scripture, because deacons in particular seek to draw the church into the world to be the hands and heart of Jesus, proclaiming the gospel in which Jesus teaches us is a joy and central to the life and work of deacons. The Gospel provides the teachings of Jesus for both our teaching and our learning. It is also the basis of the sermons we preach, further allowing us to make Christ’s love known through our words.
                                         
Because of the centrality of the Gospel to the church, when a deacon carries the gospel into the church, it is appropriate to bow in reverence. In other words, the Gospel represents Christ in the same way as the Cross does – and should be reverenced whenever it is processed in the church. It is because of our reverence, and our love of Jesus, that we respond after the Gospel is proclaimed, “Glory to you, Lord Christ!”
FOOD BANK COLLECTION
Thanks to the generosity of the St. James community, our Food Bank guests are now enjoying peanut butter and oatmeal.

Starting this Sunday, January 13th through the majority of Epiphany, we are asking our Cathedral Congregation to bring jelly (for PB&J sandwiches). We’ll take any variety, but grape and strawberry are two kids’ favorites. Thank you!
GETTING TO KNOW THE DEAN
Story by Emily Niblick
This is only an excerpt from this feature article. To read the full article on St. James Website, click on the button below.

It’s been six weeks now, and we are becoming adjusted to having a Dean in the Cathedral. Most of us have heard him preach, talked to him, met his wife Erin and their dear little one, Lexie. We have heard some of what he envisions for the Cathedral, and has emphasized that we can grow and be so much more. But how many of us know the story of Dean Ryan?

I had the privilege to sit down and chat with the Dean for some time recently, and in the course of our talk I was elated to hear all about the Dean Ryan that has done so much we don’t know about prior to coming to us. And so, I will endeavor to share with you the story of Dean Ryan Newman.

Born in Tarzana, California, within his first two years his parents had left the San Fernando Valley near Los Angeles for the cooler, less developed beauty of Mission Viejo, located in south Orange County. His Mom worked as a teacher, and his father established his own corporation as a Certified Public Accountant. As he moved through childhood (which, incidentally, involved numerous trips to the Emergency Room due to stunts he was just positive he could pull off but somehow went awry).
ECW LUNCHEON AND MEETING, FEBRUARY 3
Everyone remembers what a fabulous job our Episcopal Church Women (ECW) did for the special events of November and December. How they provided delicious food and delivered a wonderful atmosphere for Thanksgiving and the installation of Dean Ryan. Well, now it’s their turn to be treated. 

During their first meeting of 2019, the ECW will be the guests of honor as the Men’s Group will prepare and serve lunch—all the women of St. James are invited to attend! The luncheon and meeting will be held in the White Room of the Zoe Eden Center after the 10:00AM on February 3rd and will include organizational plan for 2019. We are hoping to fill the room and show that the women of St. James are united in their service!
CALL FOR CONVENTION DELEGATE NOMINEES
During the Annual Meeting of the Cathedral Congregation, we will need to select two delegates to attend the Annual Convention of the Diocese of San Joaquin, October 25-26, 2019, at The Episcopal Conference Center (ECCO). With the Cathedral clergy and wardens, convention delegates represent St. James at this vital meeting of the Diocese.

If you feel called to serve as a delegate, please fill-out a "Diocese Convention Delegate Nomination Form (see download button below). Copies of the form will also be available this Sunday at the entrance of the Cathedral and Chapel.

For inclusion in the annual meeting packet, nomination forms are due by noon on January 16th. Forms can be emailed to the Dean or returned to the Cathedral Office. Forms submitted after the due date will be accepted but may not appear in the nomination packet. Nominations from the floor can be made at the Annual Meeting, but we are strongly encouraging nominees to submit their names prior to the meeting.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF A DELEGATE

  1. Attend three Central Deanery Meetings 
  2. Attend Diocesan Convention October 25-26, 2019 at The Episcopal Conference Center (ECCO)
  3. Report to the Cathedral Congregation about Convention.
ANNUAL MEETING & BRUNCH POTLUCK
“Annual Meeting Sunday” is January 20th! Since this is our first annual meeting with our new Dean, we are going to take the opportunity to come together as one worship community prior to the meeting.

The service will begin at 9:00AM. Following the service, we will gather together for a "Brunch Potluck" and the Annual Meeting.

A potluck sign-up sheet will be located at the entrance of the Chapel (at 8:00AM) and at the Cathedral entrance (at 10:00AM) this Sunday. You are asked to sign-up for one of the five "categories": (1) Egg dish/casserole, (2) Breakfast Meats, (3) Fruit Salad/Fruit, (4) Pastries; and, (5) Juices.

The meeting is important to the mission and ministries of St. James. Please plan to attend this vital gathering. 
Have you ever wondered where books such as Tobit, Baruch, Bel and the Dragon, and Judith are located in the Bible? Old Testament . . . no! New Testament . . . no! "But, didn't we just hear a reading from one of those books in a Sunday service," you say. Those books and others are in the Bible--in the Apocrypha to be exact.

Explore the Scriptures of the Apocrypha--the other "canonical scripture."
Emily Niblick will lead a Bible study on Thursdays at 10:30AM starting January 10th in the Fireside Room.

This will be an introductory study. The study will focus on the background and context of each book, along with its impact on Christian thought. The group will explore important parts of each book, hopefully giving insight into the author’s intention and allowing participants to apply the themes and messages to their own spiritual journey.

For more information or to express interest in attending the study, please email Emily Niblick. All are welcome!
FOOD BANK WEDNESDAY
NEXT DATE: JANUARY 16H

St. James Food Bank serves the community on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Wednesdays of the month from 2:30PM – 4:30PM.

Volunteers are always needed and should arrive by 1:30PM. Thank you for your generosity and support!
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Chalking the Door
Following Church on Epiphany Sunday, the Johnston's invited God's blessing upon their home.
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.