By Timothy Tuller

Canon for Music

As we move more deeply into the winter months and the busy holiday season recedes ever further into the distance, we Episcopalians find ourselves in the middle of the Season of Epiphany. Though overshadowed to a large degree by the Christmas Season, which precedes it and the Lenten Season which follows it, Epiphany is a time of rich liturgical and musical heritage and remains one of my favorite seasons on the liturgical calendar. Our Anglican tradition has produced a large and varied body of great choral and congregational music for use during the time of Epiphany. Throughout this season, congregants will notice hymns and choral music which reflect the key Epiphany themes of light, brightness, and radiance.

As a season, Epiphany can last anywhere from four to nine weeks, depending on when Easter falls on a given year. It begins with the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6 and lasts through Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. This year Easter is on April 17, so Epiphany will last through March 1. The Gospel readings during this season recount various events that testify to the divinity of Jesus: the coming of the Magi, the Baptism of Jesus, the wedding at Cana, the calling of the disciples, and various miracles and teachings of Jesus. The Last Sunday after the Epiphany is devoted to the Transfiguration, where Jesus ascends to the mountaintop and glows with radiant brightness as the Old Testament prophets Moses and Elijah appear. Jesus' identity as the Son of God is dramatically revealed in the scripture readings during the weeks of Epiphany, calling us as Christians to respond to Christ in faith. Epiphany is, above all, about the truth of Jesus as the Messiah, the glory of the Father, shining forth to the whole world.

This Sunday, at the Cathedral Bookstore, Eman Ziyadat will have several selections of Arabic foods she prepared available for purchase. Included in the fare will be Baklava, Spinach Bread, Arabic Shawarma, Cheese Pastries, Beef Bread, and Baba Ghanoush (Eggplant Dip).

If members of the St. John's Cathedral community would like other specific Arabic cuisine on subsequent Sundays at the Bookstore, Eman says she's open to requests.

Bookstore hours Sunday are 8:45 to 11 a.m.

We will hold our Parish Annual Meeting, Sunday, February 6, immediately following the 10 a.m. service in Taliaferro Hall. Nominees for the Vestry and Convention 2023 Delegates are listed in the Nominee Booklet (link below). This year the meeting will be held both in-person and on Zoom. We will keep the meeting time to one hour, so plan to join us! You will hear from your Sr. Warden, Jr. Warden, Finance Committee Chair, Director of Operations, and Dean about what we've accomplished and what we hope to accomplish.

In addition, we will celebrate two staff retirements: Marie Tarver (35 years) and Judy Maurer (19 years). Both of these beautiful women will be present, so please consider joining us in person to honor and applaud them. If you would like to contribute to a purse to be given to each woman, please Give Here and write "Retirement gift for ____" in the memo. Checks may also be sent to the church.

The Election will be held from January 31 through February 3 through an online voting platform (as we did last year). For those who prefer not to vote online, please call the Cathedral Office (904) 356-5507 and Kitty will record your votes. The election results will be announced at the end of the Annual Parish Meeting.

We invite you to get to know the candidates. On Sunday, January 30 at 9 a.m. and immediately after the10 a.m. service, candidates will be in the back of the church. So stop and say hello, find out what they love about St. John's Cathedral and how they envision serving here. If you are unable to attend services, please read about them in the Nominee Booklet.

The Stewardship Council, Staff, Clergy, and Dean thank all who have made a pledge or recurring gift to support the ministries of St. John's Cathedral in the coming year.

Because of you...we are able to share God's love with Christ-centered ministries with you, our parishioners, and our neighbors in Jacksonville and around the world. As of Tuesday, January 23, we have received 326 pledges for a total of $1,443,489.00.

Beginning Wednesday, Feb. 2, Grateful Gatherings will resume in-person meetings at the Cathedral. A soup supper will be served at 5:30 p.m. in Taliaferro Hall, followed by Art Class in the Painting Room, Contemplative Yoga in Cummings Chapel, and at 6:15 p.m. The Baptismal Covenant: A Practical Personal Approach will meet in Busey Conference Room and on Zoom.

A choral concert featuring singers from Jacksonville University will take place Sunday, February 6 beginning at 5 p.m. in the Cathedral Nave. Dr. Julian Bryson will be conducting the concert.

Jacksonville University Choirs contribute to the cultural life of northeastern Florida by bringing high quality and artistically polished performances of the choral repertoire to campus, the community, and the region.

The Union of Black Episcopalians and St. John's Cathedral will remember The Rev. Absalom Jones in a special Holy Eucharist offered on Saturday, February 12 at 11 a.m. The service will be followed by an outdoor reception.

In 1794, Rev. Jones founded the first black Episcopal congregation, and in 1802, he was the first African American to be ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church of the United States. He is listed on the Episcopal calendar of saints. He is remembered liturgically on the date of his death, February 13, in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer as "Absalom Jones, Priest, 1818."

A choral concert featuring the 56-voice touring choir from Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, will take place Sunday, February 27 at St. John's Cathedral. The concert begins at 5 p.m. in the Nave.

Conducted by Dr. Timothy Peter, the repertoire will include beautiful sacred music from a variety of world domains and cultural backgrounds. All are welcome and admission is free.

St. John's Cathedral offers many ways to get involved. Take a class. Join a Bible study or book discussion. See the complete list of offerings here.

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Volunteers are welcome to come pack backpacks on February 17 at 9:30 a.m. at St. John's Cathedral. Contact: Joan Burchell burchelli@aol.com

Our Guild is made up of the Flower Guild and the Altar Guild. Together, we ready our beautiful spaces for all types of services.  No matter what time you are able to give, there is an opportunity for you! Preparing our Cathedral for worship is a gift you can give to everyone attending or watching.

If you are interested in getting started or have questions please contact:

Faye Wisner fwisner@comcast.net