VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1
JANUARY 15, 2020
Second Sunday after Epiphany
Isaiah 49:1-7
Psalm 40:1-12
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
John 1:29-42
8:00AM SERVICE
EM: Peter Openshaw
Preacher: Canon Anna
Celebrant: Canon Anna
10:00AM SERVICE
Usher: William Patterson and Kim Leslie
Lector: Kourinthia Burton
EM: Jeni-Ann Kren
Preacher: Canon Anna
Celebrant: Canon Anna
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)
CHAPTER RETREAT
JAN. 17-19
ECCO

ANNUAL MEETING
SUN. JAN 26 @ 10:00AM
Zoe Eden

YOUTH MEETING
WED. FEB. 12 @ 6:00PM
Upper Room of Zoe Eden

SHROVE TUESDAY
TUES. FEB. 25 @ 6:00PM
Fireside Room

YOUTH ACTIVITY
SAT. FEB. 29 @ 12:30PM
Metalmark Rock Climbing
Dear Cathedral Congregation,

Next Sunday, January 26th, from 10:00AM - 1:00PM, join us in Zoe Eden for a very special gathering--a gathering unlike any other before in the history of St. James.

I have affectionately labeled it the "Lollapalooza" of annual church meetings. For those Boomers or so in our congregation, image the "Woodstock" of annual church functions. And for our Millennials, picture the Coachella of church gatherings. You get it, I hope--it will be a diverse, engaging, empowering, and unique experience.

We will gather to worship, wander a ministry fair, participate in a ' mini-retreat', do the business of an annual meeting, and have lunch together. All in one space, much of it at the same time; and most importantly, as ONE congregational family!

Your attendance and participation are greatly needed and appreciated!

If you have any questions or would like to assistance us in making this an amazing gathering, please do not hesitate to contact me.

I hope to see you there!

Blessings,
Dean Ryan Newman
2020 CONVENTION DELEGATES
Nomination forms available now and due January 22
During the Annual Meeting of the Cathedral Congregation, we will need to select three delegates to attend the Annual Convention of the Diocese of San Joaquin, November 13th and 14th, 2020, at The Episcopal Conference Center (ECCO). With the Cathedral clergy, convention delegates represent St. James at this vital meeting of the Diocese.

If you feel called to serve as a delegate, please fill-out a "Diocese Convention Delegate Nomination Form.” The form is available this Sunday at the entrance of the Cathedral/Chapel and can be downloaded (see link below).

For inclusion in the annual meeting packet, nomination forms are due by noon on January 22nd. Forms can be emailed to the Dean or returned to the Cathedral Office. Forms submitted after the due date will be accepted but may not appear in the nomination packet. Nominations from the floor can be made at the Annual Meeting, but we are strongly encouraging nominees to submit their names prior to the meeting.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF A DELEGATE

  1. Attend three Central Deanery Meetings (5/9, 9/5, 10/10)
  2. Attend Diocesan Convention October
CHRISTMAS AT THE CATHEDRAL
The Choir performs "Were You There on That Christmas Night?" Click on image above to view video.
Bishop David and Tracy Rice share a Christmas ditty from New Zealand. Click on image to above view video.
The Cathedral Congregation sings "Silent Night." Click on image above to view video.
The “ What Can We Be” campaign is our year-long stewardship campaign focused on broadening our community’s definition and understanding of stewardship. This year, the Stewardship Packet contained not one but three pledge cards—a time pledge card, a talents pledge card, and a treasure (financial) pledge card.

We have begun the ingathering of treasure (financial) pledge cards. Throughout December, we invited members of the Cathedral Congregation to submit their pledge card during the offertory, mail, or drop-off their pledge card at the Cathedral office. Our goal is always 100% participation!

For the other two pledge cards, "Time" and Talents," we are going to ask you to hold onto those pledge cards until after our Annual Meeting/Ministry Fair gathering on Sunday, January 26, 2020. Our “Time” and “Talent” pledge cards will be gathered together on Sunday, February 9, 2020—a day we are calling “Shining Light Sunday” inspired by that Sunday’s Gospel reading from Matthew; “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (MATTHEW 5:16) 

Below is a link to the full 2020 Stewardship Packet, including copies of pledge cards. Packets are also available upon request.

If you have any questions or concerns, or need additional information, please do not hesitate to speak to the Dean, Deacons, and members of the Cathedral Chapter.

We thank you for your continued support of St. James through your gifts of time, talents, and treasure!
CHALKING YOUR HOME
Old tradition being revived in the Episcopal Church
At the celebration of our Lord's Epiphany, St. James was one of many churches that blessed chalk. That chalk is then taken home by the congregation to bless their home. “Chalking the door" invokes Christ’s blessing not only on the house but on the people who live there and those who visit. For many, this is a wonderful and meaningful liturgy for new year.

If you were unable to join us for the Epiphany, please know there is still chalk available in the Cathedral Office and will also be available on Sunday.

The prayer that accompanies the "Chalking" is below.
IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO DO A PROFILE!
Please do not miss out on this endeavor of your Cathedral. We are seeking 100% participation and now is the time participate if you have not had an opportunity to complete your "Member Profile."

Congregants, who complete a profile, will be:

  • Given access to "MY SJ," the Cathedral's database that will include the Cathedral's directory and real-time giving statements,
  • Gifted a personalized, professional-produced, Cathedral name tag,
  • Included in all communication channels of the Cathedral including mailed content.

Additionally, communications between congregants and congregants and clergy, will be vastly improved among those who have participated in the Member Profile Project.

If you attend the Annual Meeting, January 26th, we will have a station where a member of the Cathedral team will assist you in filling out your profile. The process should only take about five minutes. If you can, please try to bring a list of key dates—birth, baptism, confirmation, and marriage for those in your family profile (not required but helpful).

The membership database will improve our ability to cultivate and strengthen pastoral relationships, manage the ministries of the Cathedral, support the vital work of our Newcomer ministry, and enhance our communication abilities.

Protecting your privacy and information is a top priority to St. James. We have partnered with JotForm, the leading data form site on the internet, to securely obtain your member profile data. At the conclusion of the Member Profile Project, the data will be moved to our Church Management Software, Elexio by Ministry Brands.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or by phone (559) 439-5011.
The St. James Episcopal Youth Group has a lot of exciting things coming up this year!

Looking ahead:
Wednesday February 12th- Bible Study 6:00PM Dinner Provided


Saturday February 29th- Metalmark Rock climbing 12:30PM lunch provided. Meet at St. James Youth Room at 12:00PM.

Download the calendar to stay connected and up to date.
PLEDGE PAYMENT OPTIONS EXPANDED
Credit card and checking withdrawal now available
St. James is pleased to announce two new convenient ways to pay your pledge, ACH transfer (checking direct transfer) and major credit card.

The easiest, safest, and most beneficial option is to pay your pledge through an ACH transfer (a direct withdrawal from your checking account). Those transfers can be schedule weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly. ACH transfers have the lowest transaction fees (.35) and no processing fees (unlike credit cards). If you were to have 52 withdrawn a year the total fees taken from your pledge by the processing company is $18.20--much less than processing a credit card.

Also, if you setup a ACH transfer, you will never have to remember to bring/write a check! If you are interested in setting up your pledge as a ACH Transfer, please contact Dean Ryan.

Another safe and convenient way to pay your pledge is by credit card. Payments on credit card can be made monthly, quarterly, or annually. The slight downside to credit card payment is the additional fees and transaction fee changed against the donation. We can calculate those fees, if you would like to make an additional gift to cover the costs.

If you setup your pledge to pay by credit card, monthly transactions will occur on the 15th of the month. Quarterly credit card transactions will occur on the 15th of the first month in the quarter.

Finally, by the end of January, we will launch our Cathedral Database powered by Elexio, which will be known in our Cathedral Community as "MY SJ". Among the features of "MY SJ", you will be able to access real-time giving statements. 
DIGITAL PROGRAMS
Our congregation is growing! With the growth of our Cathedral Congregation comes the need for additional service programs on Sunday. Thus, we need to print more programs and we will; but, we also want to encourage everyone to experiment with downloading the program to your digital device (ie. phone, tablet, etc.).

Why use a digital program? (1) It is aligns with our Creation Care goals to lessen our negative impact on Creation. (2) Digital programs are in full-color and easier to read.

Downloading the program is a quick and easy process, just click on the link below to get to the website page and select the most recent program. Digital programs are always available at: https://www.stjamesfresno.org/programs
COLD WEATHER ITEMS INGATHERING CONTINUES
Donations are still needed
The Food Bank's Yellow Bag Ministry is very busy during the cold Winter season. Even though the holidays are over, we still need some important items for our neighbors in need.

Please consider donating hats, gloves, socks, scarves, coats, and blankets. Donations can be brought to the Chapel/Cathedral on Sundays or to the Cathedral Office during the week.

Please help the Food Bank serve those in need, especially during this very frigid time of year! The St. James Food Bank continues to be thankful for the congregation's continued generosity in helping with this vital ministry.
CHAPTER RETREAT
The 2020 Chapter Retreat will be at ECCO Friday, January 17th-Sunday January 19th.
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, February 1st, 7:30AM at Yosemite Falls Cafe (across from the Cathedral).
MEN'S GROUP
The next breakfast gathering is scheduled for Saturday, February 1st, 7:30AM at Yosemite Falls Cafe (across from the Cathedral).
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE
The next meeting will be Saturday, February 1st, at 9:00AM in the Conference Room.
PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
The next meeting will be Sunday, February 2nd, at 11:30AM in the Conference Room.
Annual St. Anne's Public House. The event will be held on Friday, February 21st, and Saturday, February 22nd, from 6:00PM- 8:30PM

On Friday, SAPH will host a special "After Hours" session from 8:30PM - 10:00PM with live "British-themed" music and dancing with The Steven Menconi Band. SAPH will have great food, drink, Pub songs, raffle and silent auction and much more. Contact Episcopal Church of St. Anne for tickets.
The Episcopal Church and its refugee resettlement affiliates in Texas have condemned Gov. Greg Abbott’s recently announced decision to block resettlement of refugees in the state as the Trump administration steps up its efforts to hollow out the federal government’s 40-year-old resettlement program.
Anglican Communion primates began a weeklong meeting Jan. 13 with an official audience with Jordan’s King Abdullah II. The audience took place at a conference center near the site of Jesus’ baptism, and was followed by a wider gathering featuring the heads of churches and other Christian leaders.
An end to gender-based violence and the role of faith communities in the fight for gender equality are amongst the issues highlighted by the Anglican Communion Office at the United Nations (ACOUN) ahead of this year’s meeting of the UN’s Commission on the Status of Women. The 64th UNCSW meeting in March will mark the 25th anniversary of the keynote Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
The 16 United Methodist bishops and advocacy group leaders who negotiated a recent proposal to split the denomination explained their reasoning at an event held Jan. 13 that was streamed live by United Methodist News Service.
The Anglican Church of Australia is responding to the bushfire crisis with words and actions as they seek to bring relief to the country. At least 25 people have died since September due to the fires and more than 63,000 square kilometres of bush, forest and parks have been burned.
Preparations are well underway for this year’s Lambeth Conference in Canterbury. This gathering, to which all active bishops of the Anglican Communion’s member churches are invited, takes place approximately every 10 years and will run from the 23 July until 2 August.
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.