VOLUME 2, ISSUE 16
May 6, 2020
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Psalm 24 & 29
Leviticus 8:1-13, 30-36
Hebrews 12:1-14
Luke 4:16-30
SUN. MAY 10TH - 10:00AM
Officiants: Deacon Van Huss, Cathedral/Diocese Staff Clergy
Preacher: Deacon Nancy
SUNDAY WORSHIP
SUNDAYS @ 10:00AM

SUNDAY COFFEE HOUR
SUNDAYS @ 11:00AM

WEEKLY PRAYER MEETING
TUESDAYS @ 9:00AM
ALL ON-CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL MAY 24

CHAPTER CHAT
WEDNESDAY, MAY 6 @ 6:00PM

NEW DATE AND TIME!
PRESERVATION MEETING
THURSDAY, MAY 7 @ 6:30PM

CHOIR SOCIAL HOUR
THURSDAY, MAY 14 @ 6:30PM
TONIGHT!
WEDNESDAY, MAY 6TH @ 6:00PM
Special Zoom forum with Chapter
Please join your Cathedral Chapter for a “ Chapter Chat” TONIGHT at 6:00PM via Zoom. This is a great opportunity to participate in a discussion with key lay leaders about Cathedral life, learn about what Chapter is working on, and to enjoy some fellowship time with your lay leaders and others in the congregation. The members of Chapter really want to hear from you, especially during this suspension period of public worship and activities.

All are welcome--please come! To participate, log into the  Chapter Chat. The meeting password is " james4147".

You can also join the conversation by phone. Call (669) 900-6833 and enter the meeting ID 881-5578-6472. You will be prompted to enter the phone password "492569".
SPOTLIGHT SEMINARIAN
TONI ALVAREZ
Dearly beloved saints of St. James Cathedral,

Grace, mercy and peace from the Triune God to you all. As you all know my discernment among you has sent me onto the next step in my discernment to Holy Orders. I have almost finished my first year at Seminary of the Southwest here in Austin, Texas. This year included a January Intensive class named Encuentro. In this class I encountered the realities that confront the Church at the border.

Bishop David, Canon Anna and Dean Ryan have been lifting up these realities for us in the Diocese of the San Joaquin. Now with my classmates and instructors I have had the opportunity to see these realities with my own eyes. Frankly, there is much that brings me great sadness and grief to report: children and families ripped apart by our government; children who describe their holding cells as dog cages, and accounts of violence and brutality that are too heart-wrenching to recount here, as are the circumstances that impelled many of our siblings to make the arduous journey to our borders.

But my dear saints, even among all this, there is good news. Despite the realities of sin, God is always acting to liberate his people. I have heard with my own ears the deep and abiding faith that sustains the people of the Borderlands, our siblings in God. I, along with my classmates, visited a wonderful little church in El Cenizo, Texas, right on the Rio Grande, an Evangelical Lutheran church called Agua Viva. The joy with which they embraced us did indeed flow like living water. The next weekend I visited San Pedro’s Episcopal Church in Pasadena, Texas, and I learned all that that they do for a community composed mostly of immigrants: free GED classes, English classes, help applying for SNAP and Medicaid, and scholarships for children going to college. Later we visited a shelter for people who are seeking asylum in Austin called Casa Marianella, where I heard the prompting of the Spirit to return and help as I can.

I give thanks for all that I learned during this intense time of study and prayer, even in these difficult times and as finals approach next week. I give thanks for the work that I know is already going on among you to raise awareness and to witness on behalf of our migrant siblings. Please remember me in your prayers in this time of social distancing.

Peace and love in Christ,

Jose ‘Toni” Álvarez, AOJN

Postulant to the Priesthood 
Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin
CHOIR ZOOM SOCIAL HOUR
Thursday, May 14th at 6:30PM
St James Cathedral Choir! Let’s try a choral get together on Zoom on Thursday, May 14th at 6:30PM! We don’t have the capacity to sing together, but let’s get the ball rolling with a Zoom Hello!

To participate, log into the  Choir Zoom. The meeting password is " james4147".

You can also join the conversation by phone. Call (669) 900-6833 and enter the meeting ID 829-8792-5558. You will be prompted to enter the phone password "778014".
SPIRITUAL FORMATION AND EDUCATION SURVEY
During this COVD-19 period, St. James is committed to continue offering Spiritual Formation and Educational opportunities via Zoom. Currently, we are planning the next Spiritual Formation and Education Series and we are looking for your input. In addition, the conveners of the newly started "Prayer Gatherings" are looking for feedback and guidance.

Please take a few moments to fill out the survey (link is below). The survey should only take 3-5 minutes to fill-out and it is vital for our planning purposes.

We look forward to receiving your response!
DIGITAL COFFEE HOUR
Following the conclusion of the 10AM service join us on Zoom
Every Sunday, following the 10:00AM service at approximately 11:00AM (maybe a little bit before), St. James hosts a "Digital Coffee Hour" on Zoom. We invite you to grab a cup of coffee or tea and join us for the conversation. We invite you to grab a cup of coffee or tea or your favorite drink and join us for the conversation.

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".
DIGITAL ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE WEEK
Every Monday at 6:00PM a new episode of "Five Good Minutes" premiers on St. James' YouTube Channel and Facebook page and past episodes are available onboth broadcast platforms.

"Five Good Minutes" is a production of the Dean, Deacons, and Cathedral Administrator. As the "five" say, "In each episode, our goal is for the five of us, to share at least five of the most important newsworthy items in the life of the Cathedral. . . and we do this all...in 'Five Good Minutes' (or so)."
FORWARD DAY BY DAY
Copies available that can be mailed
If part of your Sunday routine was picking up a copy of Forward Day by Day at the Cathedral, that, too, has changed in the era of COVID-19. The good news is that St. James received its 25 copies of the May-June-July issue, and have most of these remaining. If you would like a copy, please email Kourinthia at admin@stjamesfresno.org; be sure to include your address. Kourinthia will be happy to mail one to you as long as supplies last.

You can also access the daily devotions at the Forward Day-by-Day app on your smartphone, or on the website at https://prayer.forwardmovement.org/.
WEEKLY PRAYER MEETING
Every Tuesday at 9:00AM
St. James is offering continued opportunities to be engaged in prayer and community.

How can you join in?
Every Tuesday morning at 9:00 log into this Zoom link. Put in the password 023672 or stay in the waiting room and an Admin will let you into the room.

What do you need to bring/do?
There is no required level of involvement. This group is designed to provide prayer opportunities for anyone interested. Come with your prayer requests, share them in chat, or offer a voiced prayer. Kourinthia or Deacon Angela will facilitate, offering their own prayers and petitions, and ending with the collect of the day.

Where can I find more information on how to prayer/what prayers to use?
The Book of Common Prayer has a section on Prayers and Petitions. The Episcopal Church offers resources on prayer and offers a place to submit prayer requests. If you are interested in more information on prayer and spiritual development reach out to a Diocesan clergy person.

We invite you to share your prayer requests and to view the Prayer List each day and pray for those asking for prayers.

Through a simple form, you can submit a prayer that will be posted on the Prayer List web page or you can submit a private prayer request to the Cathedral clergy.
WORSHIP

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

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.
SERVICE SURVEY

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.
MAKE YOUR NEXT SHOPPING TRIP GREEN
Consider the before-life and after-life of purchases. Patronize second-hand or fair trade stores. You can buy clothes, jewelry, shoes, furniture, books, movies, and toys conscientiously. If you cannot find what you need at a second-hand store, try a fair trade store for ethically sourced products.
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE
The next meeting will be in June (Date and Time TBA) and will held in a Zoom Conference . Call in option: (669) 900-6833 and enter the meeting ID 738-270-106.
PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
The next meeting will be Thursday, May 7th at 6:30PM and will held in a Zoom Conference. Please note the date and time change. Call in option: (669) 900-6833 and enter the meeting ID 378-306-618.
MEN'S GROUP
Postponed until further notice. Thank you for your understanding.
BIBLE STUDY- THE BOOK OF REVELATION
Look for more information in the coming weeks.
Calling a new bishop isn’t a simple task under normal conditions. Add a global pandemic to the timetable, and most Episcopal dioceses have had no choice but to adjust or freeze even their best-laid plans for leadership transitions...With 17 domestic dioceses now in various stages of transition – from the sitting bishop’s initial retirement announcement to the incoming bishop’s pending consecration – all have had to shift gears to some degree.
Adapting church services to a virtual format is hard enough, but how do you do the same for Sunday school programs that are typically hands-on, interactive classes? Christian formation teachers across The Episcopal Church have found success with a variety of high-tech and low-tech methods. As Zoom and Facebook Live have become the new sanctuary, they’ve also become the new Sunday school classroom in the span of just a few weeks.
Every night at 8 p.m., Diocese of Ecuador Litoral Bishop Cristóbal León Lozano prays for Episcopalians in his diocese who have contracted COVID-19. In mid-March, the list included just four names, but by Holy Week, the list spanned seven pages. He also keeps a separate prayer list for families in need of health services and protection.
At a special virtual meeting of The Episcopal Church’s Executive Council on April 29, church leaders discussed some of the possible changes in store as the church prepares to “re-tool” in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The brief, previously unscheduled meeting of Executive Council was held on Zoom in advance of the council’s regular June meeting, which was scheduled to take place in San Juan, Puerto Rico, but will now be held online.
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.