VOLUME 1, ISSUE 39
OCTOBER 16, 2019
19th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 24)
Genesis 32:22-31
Psalm 121
2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
Luke 18:1-8
8:00AM SERVICE
Preacher: Deacon Terrance
Celebrant: Dean Ryan
10:00AM SERVICE
Usher: The Lozanos
Lector: Emily Niblick
EM: Peter Cabbiness
Preacher: Deacon Terrance
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)
EUCHARISTIC MINISTER TRAINING
WED. OCT. 16 @ 6:00PM-8:30PM
Fireside Room

CHAPTER MEETING
SUN. OCT. 20 @ 12:00PM-2:30PM
Conference Room

FRESNO/CLOVIS CROP HUNGER WALK
SUN. OCT. 20 @ 1:30PM-3:30PM
First Congregational Church of Fresno

ST. JAMES YOUTH GROUP ACTIVITY
SAT. OCT. 26 @ 6:00PM-8:00PM
Fireside Room

ORDINATION OF TOM HAMPSON
SUN. NOV 16 @ 11:00AM
St. James Cathedral

CHAPTER ELECTIONS THIS SUNDAY
This Sunday, October 20th, the Cathedral Congregation will vote to name up to four people to Chapter. Those selected by the congregation will be forwarded for affirmation to this year's Diocese Convention on October 25th and 26th. Upon affirmation by Convention, the new members of Chapter will be installed at January's Annual Meeting.

We are pleased to announce that four members of our Cathedral Congregations have been nominated to serve three-year terms on Chapter;  Stan Boone,  Katharine Nelson, Denice Leslie, and  Aaron Schuelke.

Ballots will be distributed at the beginning of both the 8:00AM and 10:00AM service and collected at the end of each service. If you are unable to attend this Sunday and would like to vote, please email Dean Ryan to obtain a ballot.
TIME IS RUNNING OUT!
MEMBER PROFILE PROJECT UPDATE
In two weeks, the Member Profile Project will conclude. There is still time to participate in the project. Your participation is crucial! Please take five minutes and fill-out your Member Profile. We need 100% participation from the members of the Cathedral Congregation.  

If you do not have access to an internet enabled device or you would like assistance, each Sunday, 8:45AM – 9:45AM until the end of October, a member of the St. James team will make themselves available in the Fireside Room. They will assist you with filling out the form.
BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS
Joyous service celebrates God's Creatures
The morning sun shone bright in a clear sky on Sunday, October 13, providing a cool and beautiful setting for the Blessing of the Animal’s service at St. James. After the 8AM traditional service concluded the Dean, Deacons, and members of the Laity worked diligently to set up patio chairs, altar, choir seats, and sound system which included an electric piano. Parishioners and pets were greeted at the archway by an usher and encouraged to enjoy coffee hour treats and mingle before the service started. 

At St. James we’re blessed to have a Franciscan serving as one of our Deacons. Deacon Terrance said of the tradition:

"Franciscan’s all over the world have the tradition of blessing animals on the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. This is not just some silly celebration of all things cute and fury but in fact a celebration of something much more profound. When we bless our animal friends we give thanks to God who made them. We celebrate the insight of Saint Francis who saw himself not so much as steward or caretaker of creation but rather as a brother to all living things. We are sister and brother to all creatures. This integrity and inter-dependence of creation leads us to respect, care and reverence for our planet and the universe.

At St. James last Sunday we celebrated the Feast of St. Francis by blessing the animals of our community. It was an exciting morning as many animals were blessed from cats, dogs, birds and even some stuffed animal companions. The Cathedral courtyard and lawn was filled with the sounds of barking, mewing, and cawing as well as music and prayer. The love we give to a pet, and receive from a pet, can draw us more deeply into the larger circle of life, into the wonder of our common relationship to our Creator.

The Dean prayed over dogs, cats, stuffed otters, and pictures of furry companions while parishioners mingled and greeted each other. 
Eucharist was also a multi-species affair as dogs led their humans up to the clergy, or cats watched from their perches on their loved one’s laps as wafers and wine were distributed. A reading from Genesis and a Canticle worked in harmony to tell the story of Creation and its glory. 

Glorify the Lord, all you works of the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
In the firmament of his power, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Let the earth glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O mountains and hills, and all that grows upon the earth, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O springs of water, seas, and streams, *
O whales and all that move in the waters.
All birds of the air, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O beasts of the wild, *
and all you flocks and herds.
O men and women everywhere, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Dean Ryan provided a reflection on the readings and on our call to care for all of God’s creation. The Prayers of the People were dedicated to creation and care, and reminded us to be grateful for their beauty and companionship. We prayed also for the results of our own neglect in stewardship for, “those animals that are missing, for those animals clinging to life and hope, for those animals waiting to be rescued, and those who have perished.” 

The entire service was inspired by the abiding humanity and enduring urge for peace exemplified by the life and ministry of St. Francis. After Eucharist was completed we lifted our voices as one in the prayer most commonly associated with St. Francis.

Lord, Make me a channel of your peace
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope
Where there’s darkness only light
And where there's sadness only joy.
O Master, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved, as to love, with all my soul. Amen.

St. Francis, and the parishioners of St. James, truly seek to answer need with prayer and action. To be a blessing to those around them, and to live lives in accordance with not only the example of St. Francis but all saints and Christ himself. Blessing our animal companions is only one part of a greater call to service.
THIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2019
QUARTERLY FOOD BANK FREE-WILL OFFERING
This Sunday, October 20th, during both the 8:00AM and 10:00AM services, we are inviting the Cathedral Congregation to participate in the quarterly free-will offering to support the St. James Food Bank. On this special Sunday, all cash gifts and any checks with the memo line “Food Bank” offered during the collection will be given to support the ministry of the St. James Food Bank.

The St. James Food Bank is blessed to have YOUR support—YOUR financial and food donations. This ministry is thriving because of your generosity and prayers. THANK YOU!

Please support the St. James Food Bank on Sunday, October 20th. 
October 20, 2019 is Spirit Sunday

This is our annual observance of Spirit Day, which is October 17, 2019.

"Spirit Day is a means of speaking out against LGBTQ bullying and standing with LGBTQ youth, who disproportionately face bullying and harassment because of their identities.

Pledging to "go purple" on Spirit Day is a way for everyone - forward-thinking companies, global leaders, respected celebrities, neighbors, parents, classmates, and friends - to visibly show solidarity with LGBTQ youth and to take part in the largest, most visible anti-bullying campaign in the world." 
2019 FRESNO/CLOVIS CROP HUNGER WALK
Join the St. James Team on Sunday, October 20th!
You can make a difference in local AND global hunger by walking in our CROP Hunger Walk this year. If you can't walk, please sponsor Team St. James. Together we are raising money to fight hunger and to walk in solidarity with all the people around the world who are walking for food, for water, and for firewood every day.

To sign up to walk, please check at the Crop Hunger Walk table outside the church front doors. To donate, a check made out to CWS/Crop will be happily accepted, cash, too, or donations may be made online.

Let's flight hunger together!

When:
Sunday, October 20th

Location:
First Congregational Church of Fresno, 2131 N Van Ness Blvd., Fresno, CA

Sign In Time:
1:30PM

Walk Time:
2:30PM
October's Youth Activity is a Halloween Party! Come in your spookiest costume, trick or treat for goodies, take your scariest photo booth pictures, and carve your best pumpkin. First prize for best costume is $25 Starbucks Card, with other prizes for all participants. Best pumpkin will receive a $20 Starbucks Card and be featured in the Midweek Missive the following week!

RSVP for the party so we can have enough food and goodies for everyone!

Click below to send Kourinthia an email telling her you're coming. 
FOOD BANK COLLECTION
Pasta Sauce
The St. James Food Bank needs our assistance to stock the shelves!

For the next couple of weeks, we are asking the Cathedral Congregation to bring on Sundays jars of the PASTA SAUCE for the Food Bank. A cart will be located at the entrance of the Chapel and the Cathedral for the collection. Thank you for your continued support of the St. James Food Bank!
SAVE THE DATE

November 16, 2019
ST. JAMES EPISCOPAL CATHEDRAL

11:00AM

God willing and the people consenting, Tom Hampson will be ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons.

All are welcome!
CHAPTER MEETING
The October meeting is scheduled for Sunday, October 20th, 12:00PM - 1:30PM. Following the meeting, we are hoping Chapter Members will join us at the Crop Walk.
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.
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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.