Volume 1, Issue 22
June 13, 2019
THIS SUNDAY @ ST. JAMES
Trinity Sunday - June 16, 2019
Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31
Psalm 8
Romans 5:1-5
John 16:12-15

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

10:00AM
Ushers: Lazanos Family
Lector: Katherine Nelson
Eucharist Minister: Toni Alvarez
Preacher: Dean Ryan
Celebrant: Dean Ryan

ONGOING EVENTS
Food Bank
2nd-4th Wednesdays @ 2:30PM

The Cottage Shop
[Closed Wednesday during Summer]
1st-3rd Sat. @ 9:00AM-1:00PM

Choir Rehearsal
[On Summer Break from Rehearsals]
UPCOMING DATES
Kathleen Gerner's Memorial Service
Sunday, June 23 - 3:00PM
Chapel

Youth Group Event
Saturday, June 29 - 12:30PM
Fireside Room

Men's Group
Saturday, July 7 - 7:30AM
Yosemite Falls Cafe

Buildings and Grounds
Saturday, July 7 - 9:00AM
Conference Room
PILGRIMAGE OF HOPE REFLECTIONS
Bishop David, Dean Ryan, and Canon Anna talk about the journey
What was it like to walk 200 miles through the Central Valley? What made the journey memorable? How will the pilgrimage transform the ministry of the Diocese? What kept you walking?

In this video, Bishop David, Dean Ryan, and Canon Anna sat down and talked about their Pilgrimage of Hope experiences.
SAVE THE DATE: JUNE 23, 2019
QUARTERLY FOOD BANK FREE-WILL OFFERING
On Sunday, February 17th, 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, June 23rd. 
DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU MAKE A HUGE IMPACT UPON THE FOOD BANK MINISTRY?
In the past year, the congregation has assisted the Food Bank with:

  • 275 jars of peanut butter
  • 250 jars of jam and jelly
  • 280 jars of tuna fish
  • 150 boxes of Bisquick
  • Hats, mittens, scarves, socks, and belts for Yellow Bag Ministry

Last year, in order to supply a breakfast, lunch and dinner to recipients, we spent $2.75 per family. The cost to supply the same amount has risen to $4.00 per family.

In addition, our Yellow Bag Ministry has grown. We are purchasing items like ponchos, emergency blankets, socks, feminine hygiene products, sunscreen, Chap Stick, and healthy snacks from the Food Bank. Our friends that are in need of shelter are proud to carry their Yellow Bag.

In the past year, we have reached out to local agencies; such as Health Screening, which tests our neighbor’s glucose, hemoglobin tests and blood pressure. Last year and this year we provided flu shots from the county. Food to Share is participating to educate nutritional foods to children and family. The ladies make the snacks in Zoe Hall and distribute them to our neighbors with the recipes.

We are connected with Fresno County School System that supplies their surplus to us every week. M.A.P. agencies serve as a resource to send people to local agencies for various assistance.

We are so blessed to work with the Thrift Shop in supplying personal needs to our neighbors. The Thrift Shop is so generous with their proceeds which they donate 50% to the Food Bank. 

Our weekly numbers are growing due to the generosity of YOU. We are reaching out to an average of 160 plus families per week.
HISTORICAL PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF ST. JAMES
by Emily Niblick
Saint James Episcopal has been an important presence in Fresno life for quite a while. One hundred and forty years to be exact! This year we are going to celebrate that anniversary in a big way as we as a church can consider ourselves among the first citizens of what would become our city of Fresno.

Episcopal missionaries had traveled through the San Joaquin Valley since the gold rush, but since it was largely unsettled they would pass on through. They might have a service for the few that were living here, but then moved on to the next settlement. In 1854 Bishop Kip, the first missionary bishop of California, took a trip in which he sailed from San Francisco to Monterey, then back on the boat to Santa Barbara, then by sea to Los Angeles, administering communion and baptizing babies at each stop. He then traveled by horse and wagon through Tejon Pass and came down into the San Joaquin, not finding any settlement until he arrived at Fort Miller, where Millerton Lake is today. He held services for the soldiers and the people from the nearby town of Millerton. It wasn’t Fresno, but it was close!
As the years went by, two other missionary priests passed through the area, neither staying long, until Diocesan minister Reverend Douglas O. Kelley was appointed to establish churches in the San Joaquin Mission District. He chose what was then called Fresno City as his home and the site of his first church planting in the valley. He arrived in 1879 and immediately began holding services and working with some local people to establish a church. Although he had been holding services since his arrival, it wasn’t until December 15, 1879, that the church was formally organized.
The first services were held in the law office of W. D. Tupper on Mariposa Street next to Sayle & Co. Drugs. Mr. Tupper also served as senior warden. That proving difficult, they were then held in a shanty like structure, before they moved into the Magnolia Hall, conveniently located on the floor above the Magnolia Saloon, located directly across from the railroad depot.
Perhaps too convenient. They soon felt a need to find a more wholesome spot and petitioned the school district to use one room of an elementary school. In 1881 and ’82, the railroad company donated two lots to the church, which some members claimed was “way too far out of town”, at Fresno and N Streets. Reverend Kelley then purchased two more lots from the railroad. Within two years, a new church and parsonage were consecrated to God’s work in the Valley. 

As this year progresses the Historical Preservation Society of Saint James Cathedral will work on various projects designed to help members learn about how much has happened in the church during the last 140 years.

Volunteers have begun going through the archives which are at the church, trying to arrange them so that they might be able to be viewed in the future. There are also plans for a celebration later in the year. Volunteers are welcome! If you would like to be a part of the society contact Peter Cabbiness or attend a meeting of the society on the first Sunday of the month after church.
The next gathering of the St. James Youth Group will be Saturday June 29, 12:30PM at St. James. The group will gather in the Fireside Room. All Junior High and High School youth are welcome--and we encourage you to invite your friends. More information to come in next week's Missive .

For information on the youth group or how to volunteer your time email sjyouth@stjamesfresno.org
The Way of Love with Bishop Michael Curry
New podcast launches
Last week, a new podcast from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry;  The Way of Love: with Bishop Michael Curry. This episodic podcast will offer more ways to engage with the Way of Love, Practices for a Jesus-Centered Life, The Episcopal Church’s intentional commitment to a set of practices as a way to follow Jesus.

Audiences will listen to stories of people from around the Church as they put the Way of Love practices of Turn, Learn, Pray, Worship, Bless, Go, Rest, into action.

The Way of Love: with Bishop Michael Curry launched on Pentecost [June 9].

The Way of Love: with Bishop Michael Curry, is available on all podcast apps and atepiscopalchurch.org. Visit the Way of Love podcast webpage to subscribe to the podcast through Apple iTunes, Google Play or Spotify and to sign up for notifications of new seasons as well as additional featured content.
LATINO MINISTRY IN THE DIOCESE
Upcoming conference at ECCO offers great opportunity
Curious about Latino Ministry and what it looks like in San Joaquin? Join us at ECCO as we welcome The Rev. Cn. Anthony Guillen and the Hispanic/Latino Ministries Team, August 25, 6PM (dinner)-August 29, 4PM.

Topics of conversation: History of Latin America, Popular Religion & Liturgical Celebrations, Scrappy Church, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Multicultural Ministry, Social Media & Latino Ministry.

Registration deadline is August 9th. Please register online through the diocesan website . $110/person for program materials plus lodging at ECCO.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK:
The Bishop and his Bobble-Head
STILL TIME TO TAKE THE PLEDGE!

Those making the pledge, affirm that they "long to grow loving, liberating, life-giving relationship with the whole of God’s Creation" and that they "pledge to protect and renew the Earth and all who call it 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.