Volume 1, Issue 7
January 30, 2019
THIS SUNDAY @ ST. JAMES
EPIPHANY 4 - February 03
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Psalm 71:1-6
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Luke 4:21-30

8:00AM
Preacher: Deacon Terrance
Celebrant: Dean Ryan

10:00AM
Ushers: Richard Jennings & Carol Mohan
Lector: Anne Middleton
Eucharist Minister: Toni Alvarez
Preacher: Deacon Terrance
Celebrant: Dean Ryan

UPCOMING DATES
Men's Breakfast
Saturday, February 2 - 7:00AM
Yosemite Falls Cafe

Feast of the Presentation of our Lord (Candlemas)
Saturday, February 2 - 6:00PM

Episcopal Church Women (ECW)
Luncheon & Meeting
Sunday, February 3 - 11:30AM

Sunday School Startup
Town Hall with the Dean
Sunday, February 10 - 11:30AM
White Room

Chapter Meeting
Sunday, February 17 - 11:30AM
White Room

Newcomers Luncheon
Sunday, February 24 - 11:30AM
White Room

Central Deanery Meeting
Saturday, March 2 - 10:00AM
EDUCATION MINISTRIES:
Sunday School & Adult Education and Formation
by Emily Niblick
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.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
My mother was a children’s Sunday School teacher. From middle school to the wee ones, she taught them all and loved them all. I think my mother loved the smaller children the most because she could use her more “unique” teaching methods. For example, when teaching children about the Sadducees, the powerful Jewish sect opposed to the Pharisees, she taught the Sadducees did not believe in the afterlife; so, they were “sad, you see.”

Now I am sure that there are many adults today, attending church services wherever they are, that every time they hear the Sadducees mentioned they remember that the Sadducees did not believe in the afterlife—all because of my mother’s “unique” teaching style.

Sunday School is not simply a place where children get dropped off and left to play while their parents/guardians worship. Sunday School seeks to offer to the youngest members of the congregation the foundation for a Christian life and the building blocks of their faith. What they learn in Sunday School; not only the facts of faith but the Christian people who taught them, we hope will be with them their entire lives. 

I am proud of my Mom and I am convinced that many of her students remember her fondly from the days of being a student in her Sunday School class.

Sunday School teaching is not just a ministry; it is a calling and an amazing opportunity. As you know, on February 10th, at 11:30AM in the White Room, Dean Ryan will host a town hall for the congregation as we begin to prepare for a Sunday School program at St. James. We hope many in our Cathedral Congregation will hear the call to serve and offer those same building blocks of faith to the children of the Cathedral. This is a crucial ministry needed for the long-term sustainability and vitality of the Cathedral. We hope everyone considers the call and opportunity to serve in the Sunday School Ministry. 

Who: Anyone 14 and older.

Time involved: Once a month to be on a Sunday School Team. Teachers arrive 20 minutes before the service. Students and teachers will join the congregation each Sunday for the celebration of the Eucharist.
ADULT EDUCATION AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION
Christian education does not stop when we reach adulthood—we are called to continue seeking out opportunities to grow our Christian education and spiritual formation. There is so much to learn!

Thanks to our adult education program at St. James, largely represented by our Sunday morning Adult Forum and frequent Bible studies, many opportunities to keep learning and growing awaits us.

Recently, various members of the Cathedral congregation hosted classes and forums on such topics as serving as usher, the Way of Love by Presiding Bishop Curry, the origins of Christianity, and transgenders and Christianity.

On Sunday, February 3rd, at 9:15AM, is the next education offering—an Adult Forum Series on the history of the Anglican Church. Taught by our own Stan Boone, the education series be a wonderful and exciting look into history. The Adult Forum meets every Sunday at 9:15AM in the Fireside Room. All of the Adult Forum classes are taught by members of the Cathedral Congregation who volunteer their time and expertise. Please consider leading an Adult Forum in the future. 

Presently, there is also a weekly Bible study meeting Thursday morning at 10:15AM. The present study, which will continue through May, is focused on the Apocrypha--those mysterious books that are between the Old and New Testaments in some bibles. Each week is an adventure as a new book is examined. Participants are learning about the impact these books had on Jesus’ own generation and the history of the Jewish people during the years between 250 BCE and 100 CE.

In Lent, Dean Ryan and the Deacons are preparing a Lenten Study Series on Wednesdays evenings—more details to follow soon.

One’s learning should never stop. Teachers and leaders are needed to provide the ideas, the knowledge, and the content. How can you help? 

Who: Adult members of the Cathedral congregation.

Time involved: Varies. TBD.
"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.
THE MINISTRY OF DEACONS
Part Four: Deacon's Role at the Dismissal
The dismissal immediately follows the blessing of the priest or bishop after Eucharist. We are blessed so that we can be sent into the world. In this way, the dismissal connects what we do in worship and at Eucharist with God’s commission to us in the world – it is Jesus’ official “sending” of his people into the world. It is thus a joyous command the deacon is blessed to leave with all the baptized! 

Eucharistic Prayer C connects the Eucharist with our commission in the world: 

Lord God of our Fathers: God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: Open our eyes to see your hand at work in the world about us. Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this Table for solace only, and not for strength; for pardon only, and not for renewal. Let the grace of this Holy Communion make us one body, one spirit in Christ, that we may worthily serve the world in his name.

With the dismissal, we are sent to be the people of Christ on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Then on Sunday, we are refreshed, we worship God, we are fed and we are blessed – not only for our own fulfillment, but to fulfill the Great Commandment: to love our God, and to love one another as ourselves. And so it is that we proclaim, filled with enthusiasm (which is the love of God), 

Let us go forth to love and serve the Lord! 

And the people, with great joy, respond, 

Thanks be to God!

Deacon Nancy and Deacon Terrance
ADULT FORUM: CHURCH HISTORY SERIES
Starts this Sunday, February 3rd
Want to learn of our church’s early foundings by Henry VIII? Henry’s wives? Have you wondered if Henry created a religion just to get a divorce? How did a young teenage King start a “reformation”?

Please join us at the Adult Forum for a three-part discussion on the formation of the Anglican church. The discussion will examine English history before the reign of Henry VIII and the formation of the English Church through the reigns of Henry’s children: Edward, Mary and end with Elizabeth’s reign. 

Please join Stan Boone as he leads the discussion at the Adult Forum, beginning on Sunday, February 3 at 9:15AM.
MEN'S BREAKFAST THIS SUNDAY
The men of the Cathedral Congregation will gather on Saturday morning, February 2nd, at Yosemite Falls Cafe (4020 N Cedar Ave,--across the street from the Cathedral). The breakfast will begin at 7:00AM.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10
SUNDAY SCHOOL STARTUP
TOWN HALL MEETING WITH THE DEAN
Our children are the future of the Church! We are called by God to support, nurture, and empower their future in the Church! This is a responsibility that is be shared by the whole Cathedral congregation, not just by a few individuals and not just by the parents/guardians of our current children.

We not called to minister "to" our children, we are called to minister “with” and “for” our children!

Our Sunday, February 10th at 11:30AM in the White Room (Zoe Eden), Dean Ryan will host a town hall meeting to discuss the future of a Sunday School program at St. James. ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND - You do not need to have school-aged children.

In his annual meeting address, Dean Ryan said it is crucial that St. James offer ministries centered around the children and youth of the Cathedral congregation. The goal is to start a Sunday School program by the start of the next school year (August/September 2019).
On March 1-3, 2019, we invite you to join us for the 22nd Annual Interfaith Scholar Weekend. St. James Episcopal Cathedral is one of the sponsors of this incredible event. This year’s featured scholar is the Reverend Doctor Thandeka, President of Love Beyond Belief Inc.

The Friday evening opening keynote at Fresno State (“Got race? America’s most successful Ad Campaign”) and the Sunday morning Worship at the Unitarian Church of Fresno (The Hope Factor: “Love Beyond Belief Today”) are free and open to the public!

Saturday's full-day program requires participants to register. Saturday's program (complete with vegetarian breakfast and lunch!) costs $45 before February 15th, $50 up to February 28th and $55 at the door. Students, believe it or not, can enjoy the day, complete with 2 meals, for only $10!

For much more information about the Interfaith Scholar Weekend and to register for Saturday's program hosted Temple Beth Israel, please visit: www.interfaithscholar.org
KICKOFF SUPERBOWL WEEKEND WITH
CANDLEMAS ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND
On Saturday, February 2nd at 6:00PM, in the Chapel, the Cathedral will celebrate the feast day of Candlemas, also known as the Presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple. The Feast commemorates the presentation of Jesus and the purification of Mary in the Jerusalem Temple forty days after Jesus' birth, in accordance with the requirements of Jewish law (Lv 12:2-8). 

There is a great deal to celebrate on February 2nd. 

  1. Candlemas is the third and final “festival of light” during the darkest time of year. The other festivals are the Nativity and Epiphany. 
  2. To celebrate the light, special candles can be lit during the Eucharist and candles utilized throughout the year are blessed. 
  3. February 2nd is the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.
  4. The Lord Jesus is presented by Joseph and Mary to the Temple. A man named Simeon, who was a priest sees baby Jesus and offers the prophetic words which we now know as the Nunc Dimittus—a song sung often during Evening Prayer.

An added bonus from some: With Sunday, February 3rd being Superbowl Sunday, come to Candlemas on Saturday night and you can spend all day Sunday preparing for the game. However, Church on Sunday will be over by 11:30AM—some four hours before kickoff. So join us for both, Candlemas on February 2nd and another “super” Sunday with your Cathedral Family on February 3rd. 
ECW LUNCHEON AND MEETING, FEBRUARY 3
All women are invited to a very special ECW luncheon and meeting to be held on February 3rd in the White Room in Zoe Eden. The gathering will begin after the 10:00 service that morning.

Luncheon is being provided by the St. James Men’s Group as a thank you for all that ECW does for the Cathedral. Special Guest Dean Ryan will also attend. 
FOOD BANK COLLECTION
Thanks to the generosity of the St. James community, our Food Bank guests are now enjoying peanut butter and oatmeal.

Throughout 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!
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.