Last Sunday after the Epiphany

Psalm 115

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Hebrews 12:18-29

John 12:24-32

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Officiants: The Reverend Nancy Key and Cathedral/Diocese Staff Clergy

Preacher: The Very Reverend Samuel Colley-Toothaker, Acting Dean

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And so, it begins...rather it will on February 17th, Ash Wednesday. While not a “Holy Day of Obligation,” it is a day that we hold sacred because it begins a season of fasting, repentance, prayer and self-control. Most certainly there is no mention of Ash Wednesday in Holy Scripture there is a tradition of donning ashes as a sign of penitence that predates our Lord, Jesus Christ. In the Hebrew Scripture, Job repents in “dust and ashes,” and there are other associations of ashes and repentance in the stories of Esther, Samuel, Isaiah and Jerimiah. Please join us as we don ashes and begin this solemn time of reflection, prayer, self-sacrifice and... random acts of kindness. Christ gave all for us. We must do no less for Him.

The Ash Wednesday service will be pre-recorded and shown on our social media platforms at 6:30 pm. To receive ashes, folks must not feel ill. They must wear masks and clergy and lay volunteers will not be touching their person. We will use cotton swabs to make the sign of the cross on their forehead. The imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday is subject to COVID restrictions.

If you are interested in volunteering to impose ashes at the above times and locations, please email Dean Sam+ at dean@stjamesfresno.org or our Cathedral Administrator Denise Grayson at admin@stjamesfresno.org. We need two volunteers per time slot. Thank you in advance for your support.

Join us for six interfaith conversations every Monday, as we consider what it means to "Bear Witness" to Fresno's history of racism and redlining.

Date: Every Monday, February 15 - March 22, 2021

Time: 4 p.m. PST

Location: Zoom

Registration on Eventbrite is coming. All sessions are free and will be recorded. For more information, visit their homepage.

Guest Scholars:

Malik Simba, PhD, Professor Emeritus of History and Africana Studies, Fresno State University

Nathan Hensley, PhD, Associate Professor of English, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.

Uziel Jimenez, Antiracist Educator, Co-founder Fresno Ethnic Studies Coalition

Each of our three guest scholars has made an important contribution to the study of racism and redlining in Fresno. Speaking from different vantage points, life experiences, and scholarly pursuits, they ask what it means to bear witness, and who gets to tell their story.

Representatives from four faith traditions and respondents take a deep dive into Eddie S. Glaude Jr.'s best-selling book, Begin Again: James Baldwin's America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own.

Our three guest scholars return for a powerful discussion with four interfaith speakers on lessons learned and the urgent questions we must ask in order to call forth a new America in our communities.

Gift opening and toast at 2:30 pm

Please bring your favorite beverage

for a toast!

If you would like to send cards, please send them to the Cathedral:

Packages should be sent to: (In order for them to arrive on time for the shower, please send by Monday, February 15th!)

Gifts can also be dropped off in person at the Cathedral on Sunday, February 7th or 14th from 11 am - 12 pm or Wednesday, February 17th between 11 am - 2 pm.

(PS…they live in a renovated ‘Tiny’ School Bus, so space-efficient items are appreciated! You can see pictures on Instagram: our.bus.atlas)

The Fresno Bee has published this linked article: Coronavirus weekly need-to-know: Double masks, variants, second vaccine doses & more.

Vaccine clinic locations are still being added by the county. Watch for more details on our website, Facebook page, and in upcoming Midweek Missives. Visit the link below for Fresno County's COVID-19 response page for testing and vaccinations.

Contact Dean Sam if you are interested in working with him on the Buildings and Grounds Team. There is much to be done, and you can make a difference. You can reach him at 415-758-1904.

Thank you for your generosity to the Cathedral and to all who call St. James home. Your pledges are needed to make the good work happen here. It isn't too late. Pledge now below.

Soul Tenders small group will begin a six week Lenten Zoom study of the Passion of Jesus, Wednesday evenings, 6:50 p.m., February 24 through March 31, 2021. "Entering the Passion of Jesus" author, professor, and biblical scholar, Amy-Jill Levine, explores the biblical texts surrounding the Passion story. Professor Levine shows us how the text raises ethical and spiritual questions for the reader, and how we all face risk in our Christian experience. To participate please call 559-439-5011 or email soultenders@stjamesfresno.org to register.

St. James offers Sunday worship each Sunday at 10:00AM on our YouTube Channel, Facebook Page, and Website. Archives of these services are available.

Starting this Sunday, we will once again begin offering digital service programs. Visit the St. James website to download the program. If possible, for our creation care work, please do not print the program.

To help us improve our digital church experience, please evaluate your experience of our "live stream service," by taking a moment to complete a short survey following Sunday's service.

Cut five minutes off your shower to save water. According to a study done by Harvard the average American shower uses 2.5 gallons per minute. You will save 12.5 gallons of water if you shorten by just 5 minutes. Or, consider turning the water off while you lather up and only turn it on to rinse.

To participate, log into the Cathedral Coffee Hour on Zoom. The meeting password is "james4147". You can also join the conversation by phone. Call (669) 900-6833 and enter the meeting ID 821-8772-3828. You will be prompted to enter the phone password "492292".

The clergy of St. James remain deeply committed to offering pastoral care and support to members of the Cathedral Congregation especially during this difficult time. If a pastoral need arises for you or someone you know in the congregation, and you want to contact the clergy, please either email us at clergy@stjamesfresno.org or call the Cathedral office at (559) 439-5011 and select option 5 to leave a message for the clergy.

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.