VOLUME 1, ISSUE 40
OCTOBER 23, 2019
20th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 25)
Sirach 35:12-17
Psalm 84:1-6
2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18
Luke 18:9-14
8:00AM SERVICE
Preacher: Deacon Nancy
Celebrant: Dean Ryan
10:00AM SERVICE
Usher: Richard Jennings & Carol Mohan
Lector: Anne Middleton
EM: Peter Cabbiness & William Patterson
Preacher: Dean Nancy
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)
STEWARDSHIP BRAINSTORMING
SESSION WITH THE DEAN
SUN. OCT. 27 @ 11:45PM-1:00PM
Conference Room

MEN'S BREAKFAST
SAT. NOV. 2 @ 7:30AM
Yosemite Falls Cafe

PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING
SUN. NOV. 3 @ 11:30AM-1:00PM
Conference Room

IMMIGRATION TASK FORCE
SUN. NOV. 9 @ 10:30AM-2:30PM
Fireside Room

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

CHAPTER MEETING
SUN. NOV. 17 @ 12:00PM-2:30PM
Conference Room
For this installment of the Dean’s Descant, I want to share a few brief, but important updates/announcements.
MEMBER PROFILE PROJECT
If you have not filled out your profile, please do ASAP. I know we sound like a broken record . . . but it is absolutely vital that everyone participate. Unfortunately, we do not have the staff resources to track down and remind everyone who was not participated. It takes no more than five minutes to fill out a profile. On November 1st, we will close the online portal and begin the process of transitioning the data into our new church database system. If you have any questions or needs assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Kourithinia or Dean Ryan.
CHAPTER ELECTIONS
I am pleased to announce that Stan Boone, Katharine Nelson, Denice Leslie, and Aaron Schuelke were elected last Sunday by the Cathedral Congregation to serve three-year terms on Chapter. We were one ballot short of a unanimous selection of the whole slate. Their selections will be affirmed at this week’s Diocese Convention. Congratulations Stan, Katharine, Denice, and Aaron!
STEWARDSHIP
Often when we hear the word “stewardship” our minds immediately go to financial stewardship. However, stewardship is much larger than our financial commitments to God. My preference (and practice) is to develop with others a stewardship theme for the Church year (Advent – Ordinary Time). The annual stewardship theme guides our conversations and decisions and seeks to highlight the ministerial priorities for the next 12 months. At. St. James, our year-long stewardship endeavor will launch Advent 1 (Sunday, December 1st) with the ingathering of our 2020 pledges of time, talent, and resources. Then, throughout the year, both in small and large ways, there will be opportunities to experience and live-into our stewardship theme.

To begin this journey, I am inviting the Cathedral Congregation to a special “Stewardship Brainstorming Session” on Sunday, October 27th, 11:45AM – 1:00PM in the Conference Room. We will talk more about the year-long stewardship theme approach and begin flushing out this upcoming year’s theme. All are welcome. Lunch will be provided, and an RSVP is kindly requested. Please email the Dean or call the office (559) 439-5011.
CHANGE TO THE CATHEDRAL CONSTITUTION
At last Sunday’s meeting, the Chapter unanimously voted to amend Article VII of the Cathedral Constitution. This revision aligns our constitution with the Diocesan Canons regarding term-limits for Chapter members.
Previous language
(From Article VII) 

No member of the Chapter who has served a regular term of three (3) years, or more than one and one-half (1 ½) years of an unexpired term, shall be eligible for reelection until one (1) year has elapsed since the date of expiration of the regular term of office.
Adopted, revised language
(Article VII)

Chapter Members that are elected for a full three (3) year term may be elected for one (1) additional term. Upon the expiration of the Chapter Member’s second consecutive term in office, the Chapter Member is not eligible for reelection until one (1) year has elapsed since the date of expiration of the regular term of office. As used here-in “second consecutive term” means two (2) successive three (3) year terms; or a partial unexpired term greater than half of the original term served by an appointee filling a vacancy and a subsequent full three (3) year term. Chapter Members appointed to a vacancy and serving for an unexpired term of not more than one half of the original term may be re-elected for two (2) consecutive three (3) year terms and thereafter shall not be eligible for reelection until one (1) year has elapsed since the date of expiration of the regular term of office.   
The Deacons Discuss Prayer
Part I: The Origins of Prayer 
Through prayer we confess, we give thanks, we ask…. And we are comforted, challenged, empowered, forgiven and sent. Brother Lawrence, a seventeenth-century Carmelite Brother, held the conviction that prayer is not “saying prayers,” but rather a way of living that becomes prayer (“The Practice of the Presence of God.”) Furthermore, prayers to God necessarily lead us closer to our neighbors. 

Many of us, it seems, feel inadequate to the holiness of prayer. For this, Jean Gill advises us “Pray as you can (which is the name of her book), not as you can’t.” In his book, “A Guide to Spiritual Practice,” M. Renee Miller outlines several categories of practice, including:

  • Meditative Practice (such as Daily Office practice, bead practice, centering prayer)
  • Ministry Practice (including hospitality practice, gratitude practice)
  • Media Practice (including music practice, movie practice)
  • Mind Practice (such as reading practice, study practice)
  • Movement Practice (such as walking practice, handwork practice)

By considering these forms of prayer, we are able to allow God to enter our lives in infinite ways than setting limits on God. Prayer doesn’t need to be – and shouldn’t be – limited to artfully constructed phases, carefully scripted or memorized verses. Prayer is instead a practice of honest self-expression, a practice of illumination in which we see sickness and disorder in the light of the resurrection, and as our commitment to act for others. In the words of Pope Francis, "You pray for the hungry. Then you feed them. This is how prayer works."

The Bible has much to offer about prayer. In Genesis, we see Abraham interceding for the people of Sodom (Genesis 18:22-32) . God relents from God’s initial intention to destroy all the people of Sodom when Abraham asks God to do so for the sake of just five righteous people. Jesus prayed often, sometimes withdrawing to pray and other times with others. Jesus prayed to God before he raised Lazarus to life (John 11:41-44) .

In what is called his High Priestly Prayer (or Farewell Prayer), Jesus prays for his disciples and all followers: “… I ask you to protect them from the evil one….Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth…. I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one.” (John 17: 15, 17, 20). 

Jesus also prayed for himself in his hour of need in the Garden of Gethsemane: 
 “And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.” (Mark 14: 35-36)

We may wonder whether God hears and acts. It’s equally tempting, if God does not respond in the way we would design, to think that God does NOT hear us, or more frightening yet, does not care. Scripture promises us that this is not so. In Matthew 7:9-9 , we hear Jesus telling his followers: “Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” 

When we read this scripture, we need to remember that God loves us more than we can ask or imagine. And, that God – not us – is the Master Builder. So what may look to us like God not fulfilling what our hearts desire does not mean that God does not love us; for God is with us always. 

In Part II of the Deacon’s Missive series on Prayer, we will focus on Intercessory Prayer – which we include each Sunday as the Prayers of the People. We will look at why we pray, how God responds to our prayers, our role as baptized Christians, and how prayer changes us.
WALK TO END HUNGER
St. James Participates in Annual Fresno/Clovis Crop Walk

by Kim Leslie
St. James had one of-if not the-largest of teams of CROP Walkers at last Sunday's Fresno/Clovis CROP Hunger Walk. Thirteen of us walked from the Big Red Church (First Congregational) to and through the Tower district, 2.8 miles: Megan Peck, Deacon Terrance Goodpasture, Denice Leslie, Carol Mohan, Kim Leslie, Susan McKeefrey, Deacon Nancy Key, Dean Ryan Newman, Alec Nelson, Katharine Nelson, Elena Nelson, Meta Schettler, and Richard Jennings.

Many thanks to these walkers, to those who planned to but were unable to walk, and the many others who collected and donated online and/or directly on recent Sunday mornings. St. James Episcopal Cathedral Team has collected $1352 so far, but It's still not too late to donate online at:

It will be some time before we know the total amount collected by all the walkers from the various churches. Last year's total was over $13,000. 25% of what is collected for the Fresno/Clovis CROP Hunger Walk stays in the community for the work of the Central Valley Food Bank. 75% supports the work of Church World Service in the U.S. and around the world, working with secular and faith-based global and local partner organizations to alleviate hunger, develop resources, and provide disaster relief.
ST. JAMES MARKS SPIRIT DAY
Sunday, October 20th St. James and the Diocese of San Joaquin observed Spirit Day. Bishop David Rice authorized the wearing of purple, normally reserved for Advent or Easter, in solidarity with GLAAD and their anti-bullying movement. Spirit Day is October 17th, violence against LGBT youth is an epidemic facing our society. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24. LGB youth seriously contemplate suicide at almost three times the rate of heterosexual youth and are almost five times as likely to have attempted suicide compared to heterosexual youth.

Deacon Terrance spoke forcefully of the need to speak out against bullying. Terrance quoted Edmund Burke, reminding us, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” By failing to speak out against bullying we are allowing it to happen.

If you or someone you love is struggling with bullying, identity issues, or suicidal thoughts there are places to go and people to reach out to.

The Trevor Project : Specializes in LGBTQIA+ counselling and suicide prevention. They also offer training if you are interested in becoming an active part in LGBTQIA+ suicide prevention.

Suicide Prevention Lifeline : If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States.
Thank you to everyone who generously gave their financial support to the St. James Food Bank. The Food Bank ministry is an important part of the Cathedral's partnership with the community and an extension of our baptismal identity. Your financial support helps provide more than meals. The Food Bank offers hope to families struggling to feed themselves, alleviating some of the financial strain they face, and allowing them to invest their time and money in other necessities.

If you wish to show your support to the Food Bank with a gift your time and talents please contact Tracy Cappel Rice .
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!
STEWARDSHIP BRAINSTORMING SESSION
On Sunday, October 27th, 11:45AM - 1:00PM, Dean Ryan is hosting a gathering in the Conference Room to talk about the year-long stewardship theme approach and to begin flushing out this upcoming year’s theme at St. James. All are welcome. RSVP: Email the Dean or call the office (559) 439-5011.
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.
CHAPTER MEETING
The November meeting is scheduled for Sunday, November 17th, 12:00PM - 2:30PM in the Conference Room.
The Episcopal Church’s Executive Council gathered here Oct. 18 for a four-day fall meeting with racial reconciliation as a central theme, amplified by this city known for its prominent place in the histories of both the Civil War and the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
Integrity, the nonprofit organization dedicated to LGBTQ advocacy within The Episcopal Church, is a shadow of its former self, beset by struggles with leadership, finances and communication – as well as questions about whether it is still relevant or necessary in 2019.
The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, a small, mostly African American congregation in this city’s Centennial Hill neighborhood, has just eight rows of pews. All of them were filled. Members of The Episcopal Church’s Executive Council were joined by parishioners, both eager to hear from their guest of honor, Bryan Stevenson.
One of the most pervasive and insidious forms of systemic racism in the 20th century is still with us today: the once federally sanctioned practice of housing discrimination known as redlining. Its impact on American cities can still be seen – and even mapped – in the glaring inequities in access to education, health care and other resources based on where people live.
Today, the National Fund for Sacred Places (National Fund) announced awards to ten historic congregations across the United States. These ten places, representing some of America’s most significant sacred spaces, have earned entrance into a national grant-making program that is set to invest $1.9 million in their repair and restoration, the safeguarding of their physical legacies, and strengthening the value they contribute to their communities.
Trinity Church Wall Street continues to support criminal justice reform and the end to mass incarceration in New York. In a statement shortly after New York City lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to close the jail complex, Trinity priest, the Rev. Winnie Varghese said in a statement:

“Today’s vote is a historic victory in the fight to end mass incarceration and advance racial justice in New York City. For too long, Rikers Island has festered in the East River, separating the accused from their families and networks of support and protecting the jails from accountability. Today we say, ‘no more.’
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.