VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2
JANUARY 23, 2020
Third Sunday after Epiphany
Isaiah 9:1-4
Psalm 27:1, 5-13
1 Corinthians 1:10-18
Matthew 4:12-23
10:00AM SERVICE
Annual Meeting
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)
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
REMINDER THIS SUNDAY: ONE SERVICE AT 10AM
We will gather this Sunday, 10:00AM-1:00PM in Zoe Eden Gym 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!
SCHEDULE

10:00AM
Dean's Welcome and Opening Acclamation

10:05AM
Coffee and Conversations about Ministries

10:30AM
Songs, Scripture, and Cafe Table Talks

11:25AM
Celebration of Eucharist

11:45AM
Lunch Served

12:00PM
Annual Meeting Called to Order
Voting for Convention Delegates

12:15PM
Dean's Address

12:40PM
Election Results
Honoring Outgoing Chapter Members
Commissioning Chapter Members

12:55PM
Prayer and Blessing
Closing Hymn and Dismissal
2020 CONVENTION DELEGATES
Nominations still open!
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 24th. 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
AARON SCHUELKE

Aaron was born in Texan and grew up near Austin. After a time of "spiritual fermentation" Aaron joined the Episcopal Church as a 17 year old High School Senior. He's been involved in the Episcopal Church every since wherever he's found himself.
Eventually he made his way to Fresno for work. Aaron teaches Film at Fresno State and made St. James his spiritual home after moving to the city.

Aaron ran for Chapter after being approached by Dean Ryan. He had called St. James home for about a year and was at a place where he felt ready to get involved in the community. "As a community I'm interested in seeing what it looks like to live into the role as a cathedral in our diocese. I want to continue what we're doing, support our clergy, and expand on the service we're doing int he community. I’ve become increasingly excited about what is happening at St. James and what God is doing in our community and I look forward to the future."
DENICE LESLIE

Denice is a retired United Methodist Clergy Person, a wife, a mom, and a grandmother. She lives in Clovis with her husband Kim, and runs a Clergy Coaching practice.

Denice first came to St. James as a guest of Carol Mohan for Dean Ryan's installation. At the time she and Kim had only been retired for about 3 years and were looking for a new spiritual home. A conflict of interest with the United Methodist Church meant they were attending a non-Methodist church locally. "When we came to St. James for the installation we just knew we were home. We really love St. James, the inclusiveness of the congregation, the commitment to the whole Bible."

Denice ran for Chapter out of a desire to see St. James thrive and expand its ministry, and to help it become a vital force in the community. For Denice, personal holiness and social holiness go together. "The gospel is about serving in a church that focuses on that. I think, that’s pretty much why. I wanted to be able to be supportive of the vision of the clergy, the Dean, and also to continue to give back to the Church. I do have a clergy coaching practice, and I love this clergy, and want to use my experience to the benefit of my congregation."
KATHARINE NELSON

Katharine was born in Houston, Texas but moved to New Mexico when she was 5 years old. Though Katharine isn't a "cradle Episcopalian" she still considers herself a "cradle protestant" finding church homes in the united Methodist, Southern Baptist, American Baptist, and Presbyterian traditions. "The liturgy provides a richness to the worship experience that helps me adopt a reverent attitude and grounds my soul."

Katharine's husband David Balabanis is a cradle Episcopalian and works as a nurse anesthetist. When Katharine and her family moved to Fresno she and her family joined St. James and began attending the new members classes. On April 1, 2018 Katharine, David, and their two children, Alec and Elena, were confirmed by Bishop David Rice.

Katharine works as a physical therapist and spends her time at the California Veteran's Home helping residents with fall prevention.

"I am not exactly sure what my role on the Chapter will become, but I feel that my spiritual background in different churches, my newness to the Episcopal branch, and my role as a parent helping children grow in faith, might help offer perspective as we discern how to implement how God is calling us to serve our local, and Diocesan communities."
CHAPTER GATHERINGS FOR RETREAT
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 this 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!
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 this Sunday, 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.
Deacon Angela celebrates her birthday while on retreat with Chapter.
Lexie enjoys Deacon Angela's birthday cake.
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. 
Commit to Low or No Waste Grocery Shopping
Some ways to reduce the waste when shopping for groceries are to buy unpackaged fresh fruits and vegetables, bringing your own container to a bulk food store, investing in some produce bags to transport fresh foods, avoid prepared foods, and bring your own grocery bags.

Click here for more information on zero wast shopping.
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.
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.
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s keynote address at the 50th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast on Jan. 20 was full of Scriptural interpretation, moral lessons and charismatic preaching reminiscent of King himself.
Episcopalians in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula are joining calls for a local high school to change its nicknames, which many consider derogatory toward Native Americans. Northern Michigan Bishop Rayford Ray wrote a letter Jan. 3 to the school board in Marquette calling for an end to the use of “Redmen” and “Redettes” at Marquette Senior High School, and the Rev. Lydia Kelsey Bucklin, Ray’s canon to the ordinary for discipleship and vitality, spoke in favor of changing the nicknames at a tense school board meeting on Jan. 6.
The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. is in good company at St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church on the city’s south side. For nearly 25 years, the late civil rights leader has held a position of prominence between the Rev. Absalom Jones, the first African American priest in The Episcopal Church, and the Rt. Rev. James Theodore Holly, the first black Episcopal bishop.
The heads of 33 of the Anglican Communion’s 40 provinces gathered last week in Jordan for the Primates Meeting, with The Episcopal Church’s Presiding Bishop Michael Curry among those seeing opportunities to look beyond the provinces’ theological divisions amid preparations for this summer’s Lambeth Conference.
The Rev. Glenda Curry was elected bishop coadjutor to become the 12th diocesan bishop at the electing convention held on Jan. 18 at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham. Curry is the first woman elected bishop in the Diocese of Alabama. She will succeed the Rt. Rev. John McKee Sloan upon his retirement at the end of 2020.
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.