Thank you to everyone who has already participated in our 2019 pledge campaign, Roots and Branches Growing in Faith.

Take a look at the numbers:

In 2017, 187 pledges raised $383,313.

In 2018, 176 pledges raised $348,625.

Our 2019 goal is $380,000. Please prayerfully discern where God is calling you to give out of your abundance to support the ministries of St. John's Cathedral.

Have you visited the Giving page on the St. John's website? There you can learn more about this year's pledge campaign, find out different ways to give financially to the Cathedral, and more!

Simple Gifts for West Central Episcopal Mission

What have historically been called “White Gifts” are this year becoming “Simple Gifts” that will be brought forward at the Cathedral on December 16, at the 10:30 AM service (after the Pageant), in brown paper bags with handles.

For those who would like to provide gifts for guests at WCEM’s Christmas Dinner on December 19, these brown paper bags will be provided during Coffee Hours in the Great Hall beginning November 25; there will also be a supply of bags in the office for those who may want to pick up a bag during office hours on weekdays.

Using these bags will facilitate the balancing and distribution of gifts so that each guest at WCEM will receive about the same number and kinds of gifts. We are expecting to serve around 80 guests – about evenly divided between men and women, including about 20 children.

Unwrapped items to consider including in a bag are a warm hat, warm neck scarf, gloves, a mug, packets of cocoa and/or cider, a blanket, small toys. Feel free to either fully or partially fill a bag with gifts.

Thank you for making Christmas a warmer, happier celebration for those in need in our West Central community.

The Episcopal Church has had and continues to affirm a commitment to racial reconciliation : the spiritual practice of seeking loving, liberating and life-giving relationship with God and one another, and striving to heal and transform injustice and brokenness in ourselves, our communities, institutions and society. To help cultivate this practice, we share resources to support this work each month.

Racial Reconciliation and the Episcopal Church

When many people who grew up in the United States think about the stories they are told about the origins of Thanksgiving, they may not realize how historically-inaccurate, stereotypical, and racist many of those stories and associated imagery are with regards to Native peoples. As Lindsey Passenger Wieck writes: “Stereotypical and racist portrayals of Native peoples fill U.S. elementary schools each November […]These representations of Native peoples are harmful because they compress all Native peoples into a single image of “the Native American at Thanksgiving.” These depictions overlook the immense diversity of Native peoples in North America, while also turning contemporary Native peoples and identities into costumes to be worn.”

Christians are called to recognize the harm that these representations have caused, repent of the practices and attitudes that allow these misrepresentations to be perpetuated, and commit to changed behavior in the future. This Decolonizing Thanksgiving Toolkit presents many resources to help us to change how we teach and talk about Thanksgiving.

There is another opportunity for learning and growth on December 1 at our own Cathedral. We will be hosting, alongside the Diocese and Province VIII, a workshop on “Healing Racism: Multicultural Responses in Local Context” led by musician, author, and facilitator Ana Hernández. There is no cost to Cathedral parishioners and other members of the diocese thanks to the generosity of the Bishop; there is a $10 fee for others. Register here! This workshop is a concrete way to learn and grow as we engage in the work of racial reconciliation together.

Opportunities for Servant Leadership

Have you heard a still, small voice? A big, noisy one? What is it calling you to do?

 

As you consider your life and ministry, consider whether or not God might be inviting you into a leadership role at the Cathedral. At the annual meeting at the end of January, we will be electing four new members of Chapter to three-year terms.

 

Not sure what exactly it is Chapter does? That’s OK! You can read about it here, or be in touch with any current members of Chapter. They would be happy to speak with you.

 

At the annual meeting we will also be electing delegates to the 2019 diocesan convention, which will be held next October in the Tri-Cities. Diocesan convention is one of the ways we as the Diocese of Spokane govern ourselves, doing our best to faithfully discern where God is calling us to minister and how to support that ministry. Please prayerfully consider if God might be calling you to stand to be one of the Cathedral’s delegates next October.

If you'd like to say yes to either of these opportunities, contact the office.

Upcoming Concerts at the Cathedral



Upcoming Parish Events

November 18: St. John’s Annual Thanksgiving Parish Dinner, following the 10:30 AM service. New this year: RSVP online to help us be good stewards as we prepare the meal. All are welcome!

November 21: Thanksgiving Eve Eucharist. Join us at 7 pm.

November 25: Yoga in the Cathedral. 3 pm

December 1: Healing Racism: Multicultural Responses in Local Context. A day-long workshop lead by Ana Hernández, workshop facilitator, author, and composer/arranger, co-sponsored by Province VIII of the Episcopal Church, the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane, and the Cathedral. Program begins at 9:30 AM; no cost to members of churches in the Diocese of Spokane. Register here .

December 2: Advent Service of Lessons and Carols, 4 pm

SAVE THE DATE!

December 16: Christmas Pageant and Simple Gifts during 10:30 AM service

December 16: St John's Music Series presents Handel's Messiah

December 24: Christmas Eve Eucharist services at 4 pm and 10:30 pm

December 25: Christmas Day Eucharist service at 10 am

December 31: New Year's Eve Eucharist at 10:30 pm

January 27: Annual meeting

Welcome to the new eNews from St. John's Cathedral!

Do you have an item that you’d like to see included in the December edition?

Contact the interim editor, Katherine Karr-Cornejo, prior to December 10.