VOLUME 1, ISSUE 30 AUGUST 15, 2019

10th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 15) SCRIPTURE READINGS Jeremiah 23:23-29 Psalm 82 Hebrews 11:29-12:2 Luke 12:49-56 8:00AM SERVICE Preacher: Dean Ryan Celebrant: Dean Ryan 10:00AM SERVICE Ushers: Richard Jennings & Janie Fisher Lector: Pamela Johnston EM: Pete Cabbiness Preacher: Dean Ryan Celebrant: Dean Ryan

FOOD BANK 2nd-4th Wednesdays @ 2:30PM THE COTTAGE SHOP [Closed Wednesday during Summer] 1st-3rd Sat. @ 9:00AM-1:00PM CHOIR REHEARSALS [On Summer Break from Rehearsals] THE DEAN'S FIRESIDE CHAT SUN. AUG. 18 @ 9:00AM Fireside Room ICE CREAM SOCIAL SUN. AUG. 18 @ 11:15AM Fireside Room CHAPTER MEETING SUN. AUG. 18 @12:15PM Conference Room THE DEAN'S FIRESIDE CHAT SUN. AUG. 25 @ 9:00AM Fireside Room NEWCOMERS' LUNCHEON SUN. AUG. 25 @ 11:30PM White Room (Zoe Eden) YOUTH GROUP: SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER MOVIE NIGHT SAT. AUG. 31 @ 5:30PM Fireside Room

WINDOWS ON THE WORLD

Last December, just a few days into my new role as Cathedral Dean, I was given a tour of the Cathedral campus by Bishop Rice and Pete Cabbiness. The tour concluded in the Cathedral and the Bishop asked me, "What do you notice about the Cathedral?" My response was immediate, "It feels very dark in here." Since that tour in December 2018, I have heard countless similar comments about the "darkness" within the Cathedral sanctuary. By definition, darkness is the absence of light. The Bishop, Pete, and I concluded our Cathedral sanctuary could use more light! Over the past eight months, with the help of the Buildings and Grounds Committee, Pete and I have explored how we might improve the "lighting" in the Cathedral. Light bulbs were changed and tested. New lighting schemes were discussed. However, after ever discussion and every experiment, we were unsatisfied. We were missing something! Churches, especially Cathedrals, are buildings that communicate a theology. In the days before most people could read, churches told the stories of our faith through architecture, symbols, and art. I began to think about the "theology" (the story) that our Cathedral sanctuary communicates to anyone who walks into the space.

The "absence of light" in our sanctuary is a result of the Cathedral's cloistered feel--there is not a single window in the sanctuary that looks out into the world that we are called to love and serve. The light bulb came on in my head! We were so focused on the artificial light problem in the sanctuary that we failed to see the real source of the problem—the lack of natural light in the Cathedral. Currently, our Cathedral sanctuary shuts out the external light and thus removes/isolates our congregation from the world. I said to Pete one day, "We don't have a lighting problem, we have a theological challenge. We are not letting the light of the world fill our Cathedral."

This summer, both the Buildings and Grounds Committee and the Chapter approved a plan to replace the "frosted yellow window panes" on the Cathedral's east-side with clear glass; thus, opening the Cathedral’s sanctuary to the world and allowing the light of the world to illuminate our worship space. Starting next week, contractors will begin swapping out the glass panels. I have come to realize this is not really a lighting project as much as a theological project. I believe this will be a "transformational" project for the Cathedral. It will truly open up our worship space to the world. It will also allow us to begin thinking how we might better utilize the beautiful courtyard and grounds between the Cathedral, Chapel, and school building. Currently, that beautiful space is poorly under-utilized.

At the most basic level, we will have better (natural) light in the Cathedral. Once the windows are installed, we can complement the sanctuary with enhanced electrical lighting, if needed. At the theological level, our primary worship space will have a greater connection to the outside world. Our chapel already takes advantage of the natural light and the beautiful Cathedral grounds to enhance the worship space. This "lighting project" is funded by generous donors, not operational funds. About 70% of the $7,500 has been raised and we hope others might be interested in donating to the project. If you are interested in donating, please speak to me or Pete Cabbiness. Soon our Cathedral sanctuary will better reflect the theology of our Cathedral community. The St. James family is committed to connecting with and serving the community . . . now we will be able to see the community beyond our Cathedral when we worship. I hope and pray it is a daily reminder of our call to be Christ in the world.

Join St. James Episcopal Youth Group on Saturday, August 31st, 5:30PM to 8:00PM for dinner and a movie! We'll be watching Shazam! in the Fireside Room. Bring your friends ages 10-18 for a free movie to celebrate the end of summer. We'll have dinner, movie snacks, and drinks as well as an opportunity to win a Starbucks gift card. We'll see you there!

Continuing this Sunday through the end of August, Dean Ryan will host “Fireside Chats” 9:00am -9:45am in the Cathedral’s Fireside Room. This Sunday's "Way of Love" topic is TURN.  Bishop Curry teaches about how regular worship can both help us to deny self-interest as the main aim of life and also re-center our lives on God. The assembled group are invited to bring/grab a cup of coffee or tea and will listen together to an episode of Presiding Bishop Curry’s new podcast The Way of Love. Each episode is about 20 minutes.  Following the podcast listening session, Dean will convene a conversation about the episode with the group. This is intended to be an informal, yet engaging gathering—participation is highly encouraged. Come for the coffee (or tea), stay for the conversation! All are welcome!

The mid-week Bible Study returns on Wednesday, September 11th. The study is led by Emily Niblick and will meet weekly on Wednesdays, 10:00AM to 11:00AM, in the Conference Room. The study will explore the Book of Revelation--a mysterious and often misunderstood book of the New Testament. The study will delve into what is written and interpret the text's social and historical context, as well as what it means for our own spiritual journey and faith. Every single verse of Revelation will be studied by the end of the study. The primary text will be the New Testament, specifically The Book of Revelation. In addition, Emily will suggest books and commentaries for supplement reading. If you are interested in participating or need additional information, please contact Emily Niblick.

LABOR OF LOVE SERVICE WEEKEND August 30th - September 1st

REGISTRATION CLOSES FRIDAY, AUGUST 16TH!!!

Want a free weekend stay at the beautiful Episcopal Conference Center Oakhurst? Join us for the next installment of ECCO's Labor of Love Service Weekend, August 30-September 1st. Volunteers will be provided overnight lodging and meals. Registration closes on Friday, August 16th! All rooms double and quad occupancy. Bring wheelbarrows, rakes, and shovels. The focus the completion of ECCO pond repairs, labyrinth development, and the creation of contemplative spaces along the ECCO trail system. Interested in staying for Labor Day? You can add Sunday dinner, dormitory lodging and Monday breakfast for only $30.00. More information, a schedule, and registration are available of the ECCO website.

IN HONOR OF ST. JAMES' 140TH ANNIVERSARY AND THE UPCOMING CELEBRATION THIS FALL, THE PRESERVATION COMMITTEE IS OFFERING ARTICLES IN THE "MIDWEEK MISSIVE" HIGHLIGHTING THE HISTORY OF THE CATHEDRAL.

THE MISSIONARY DISTRICT OF SAN JOAQUIN by Emily Niblick

During the last quarter of the 19th century the San Joaquin Valley began to grow by leaps and bounds. The Episcopal Church was very busy, establishing mission churches in towns from Stockton to Bakersfield and all parts in between. The burden was beginning to wear out the bishop of the Diocese of California, the Right Reverend William F. Nichols. Based in San Francisco, he found that even with the advent of trains that ran up and down the valley, it still took a large part of his time and effort to oversee his churches. His predecessor, Bishop Kip, had to appoint an archdeacon to manage the San Joaquin as his health began to fade, and in fact he died three years after the appointment of his helper. It must be remembered that the Diocese of California encompassed the whole state for quite a while after California entered the Union in 1850. It stretched from Los Angeles to Sacramento, San Francisco, and parts beyond. Some splitting of the diocese began to happen as the late nineteenth century rolled on; Sacramento became a Missionary District in 1875 and in 1896 the Diocese of Los Angeles split away from the Diocese of California. Still, there was that long stretch of the valley which demanded more and more attention. In 1876 Bishop Nichols, recognizing the problem, referred to his diocese as “A metropolitan diocese with a long missionary tail.”

The work and travel was becoming too much for the bishop. In the closing years of the 1800’s, at the 48th Convention of the Diocese of California, Bishop Nichols surprised those in attendance when he announced that he was requesting the formation of a committee to research the feasibility of ceding the San Joaquin convocation to General Convention in order to form it as a new Missionary District. A resolution was passed to create a committee composed of three clergy and six lay leaders. The bishop would chair the group. Of the members, Reverend Harvey Hansen (from St. James Fresno) would be among the clergy members and two lay members from San Joaquin (E. D. Cosper, a lawyer from Hanford, and L. L. Cory, an attorney in Fresno and member of St. James) would be among the lay members. They would present their recommendations at the 60th Convention of the Diocese of California, held at St. John the Evangelist in San Francisco on January 25, 1910. The resolutions were voted on and passed and would be presented to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Cincinnati when it met in October.

The resolutions were, in part: 4. Resolved, That the House of Bishops hereby sets apart the counties of San Joaquin, Calaveras, Alpine, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Merced, Mariposa, Fresno, Madera, Kings, Tulare, Mono, Inyo, and Kern, in the State of California, as the Missionary District of San Joaquin. 5. Resolved, That the House of Bishops elect a Missionary Bishop for the Missionary District of San Joaquin. There was also a requirement that three-fourths of the parishes in the convocation approve before the erection of the new missionary diocese could take place.  In the St. James’ Leaflet of February, 1910, Reverend Hansen of St. James gives us a little insight on the diocesan gathering. “Perhaps the most important matters under consideration were the division of the Diocese, the proposed change in the name of part of the Diocese after division, the question of proportionate representation and the election of delegates to General Convention…” The question of renaming the Diocese of California (it was suggested it be changed to the Diocese of San Francisco) was not passed. Reverend Hansen continues. “The question of division was one in which the whole convention agreed but with one exception.” It is wondered who that one exception might have been. But with the approval of convention, the matter moved on. The next step was the Convocation of the San Joaquin churches held at St. John’s church in Stockton (the oldest church in the Valley, established in 1852) in April of 1910. At this meeting the bishop spoke of the upcoming General Convention and the resolutions asking that San Joaquin be made a Missionary District. The minutes reflect only this (as written by secretary L. L. Wood) about Bishop Nichols’ comments:

There was one more step. In order for San Joaquin to become a Missionary District, the Diocese of California would have to turn over jurisdiction of the named counties to General Convention, so that they could, in votes by the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops, institute the new Missionary District.

The 43rd General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church met at the Music Hall in Cincinnati, Ohio, from October 5th through the 21st, 1910. On the first day, in the House of Deputies, it is recorded that “The Rev. Mr. Emery of California presented a Petition for the division of that diocese, which was referred to the Committee on the Admission of New Dioceses.” The committee reported back on October 10th: “The Committee have considered the proposal of the Bishop and Convention of the Diocese of California to cede to the General Convention as a Missionary Jurisdiction that part of the Diocese which is now known as the Convocation of San Joaquin, including the fourteen (14) counties of San Joaquin, Calaveras, Alpine, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Merced, Mariposa, Fresno, Madera, King, Tulare, Kern, Mono and Inyo. The Committee find that all the Constitutional requirements have been fully complied with by the Bishop and Convention of said Diocese of California, by the Parishes in the ceded territory and by the Parishes in the remaining territory. The Committee, therefore, offers the following resolution: Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the General Convention grant the petition of the Bishop and Convention of the Diocese of California and accept the cession of the territorial jurisdiction of the fourteen counties named in the petition, viz: San Joaquin, Calaveras, Alpine, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Merced, Mariposa, Fresno, Madera, Kings, Tulare, Kern, Mono and Inyo.REESE F. ALSOP, Chairman.”

All clergy and lay votes were affirmative. The next day, the House of Bishops voted on the committee’s recommendation and sent the following to the House of Deputies. “The House of Bishops informs the House of Deputies that it has concurred with the House of Deputies in adopting the resolution contained in its Message No. 10, accepting the cession of the territorial jurisdiction of fourteen counties in the Diocese of California, and that the concurrence was by the vote of more than two-thirds of all the Bishops present, as required by the Constitution. Attest: SAMUEL HART, Secretary”

It was done! The Missionary District of San Joaquin was a reality, But now it was the Bishops’ duty to appoint a new bishop for San Joaquin. Who would it be? The Right Reverend William Lawrence, who was the bishop of Massachusetts, nominated a native son who had left for greener pastures some years before. Reverend Louis Childs Sanford attended the Episcopal Theological Seminary before heading to the wild west in 1892. He was given the mission churches in Fowler and Selma upon his arrival, and in October of that year, married Miss Annie Pepper. Tragedy struck with a year of their marriage. While camping in the Sierras the following summer, both contracted typhoid fever and Mrs. Sanford died. In 1895, Reverend Sanford took St. Paul’s in Salinas, and soon married Miss Alice Vernon. By 1906, Rev. and Mrs. Sanford were at St. John the Evangelist in San Francisco. Unfortunately, the earthquake struck in April and destroyed the church. Reverend Sanford then became involved in wider church activities, serving as the secretary of the General Board of Missions for the Eighth Province at the time of his election to Bishop of the San Joaquin Missionary District. And so the churches of San Joaquin stood on their own. At the request of the vestry at St. James, Bishop Sanford decided to make Fresno the Bishop’s seat. And so it remained the Missionary District of San Joaquin until the General Convention of 1961, which voted to make the Missionary District a Diocese.

NEWCOMER LUNCHEON Are you new to St. James? And by new . . . have you started attending worship this past spring or later (give or take)? If so, we invite you Sunday, August 25th @ 11:30AM in the White Room for next our Quarterly Newcomers’ Luncheon. Meet the clergy and leaders of St. James in an informal, family-friendly gathering. Mingle with others exploring the Cathedral Family and all that St. James has to offer. A sign-up list will be available at the entrance of the Chapel and Cathedral starting this Sunday or RSVP ONLINE .

NEW WEBSITE FOR ST. JAMES Don't forget to check out the new website for St. James . The new site is a major step forward for both our Cathedral community and for those outside St. James who are eager to learn more about the Cathedral. If you have any feedback, please do not hesitate to send Dean Ryan an email with your comments.

MEN'S GROUP The next breakfast gathering is scheduled for Saturday, September 7th, 7:30AM at Yosemite Falls Cafe (across from the Cathedral).

BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE The next meeting will be Saturday, September 7th, at 9:00AM in the Conference Room.

PRESERVATION COMMITTEE The next meeting will be Sunday, September 1st at 11:30AM in the Conference Room.

AUGUST CHAPTER MEETING The meeting is scheduled for Sunday, August 18th at 11:30AM in the Conference Room. Janie is scheduled to provide lunch. Chapter Members please submit any reports and/or agenda items to Dean Ryan by August 15th.

Churches offering support for families affected by raids The Diocese of Mississippi is mobilizing Episcopalians in the state to assist families affected by federal immigration raids this week as Bishop Brian Seage joined other religious leaders in condemning the raids, in which nearly 700 workers were taken into custody at seven Mississippi chicken processing plants.

ELCA declares itself a ‘sanctuary church body' On Aug. 7, members of the mainline Protestant denomination bearing Luther’s name taped 9.5 theses — expressing their concern for immigrants and refugees — to the door of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Milwaukee The action was part of a prayer vigil for migrant children and their families during the ELCA Churchwide Assembly this week at Milwaukee’s Wisconsin Center.

Anglican Journal launches digital magazine ‘Epiphanies’ Anglicans looking for in-depth stories and diverse perspectives on complex subjects have a new place to look: Epiphanies, a digital magazine produced by the Anglican Journal team.

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.

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