VOLUME 3, ISSUE 5
February 3, 2021
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Psalm 34
Isaiah 57:14-21
Hebrews 12:1-6
John 7:37-46
SUN. FEBRUARY 7th - 10:00AM

Officiants: The Reverend Nancy Key and Cathedral/Diocese Staff Clergy
Preacher: The Very Reverend Samuel Colley-Toothaker, Acting Dean
SUNDAY SCHOOL
SUNDAYS @ 9:15AM

SUNDAY WORSHIP
SUNDAYS @ 10:00AM

SUNDAY COFFEE HOUR
SUNDAYS @ 11:00AM
ALL ON-CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
ARE SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY
A LENTEN REFLECTION FROM DEAN SAM+
...a fellow traveler
I’ve struggled with what I might write regarding Lent this year. Lent is that 40 days preceding Easter when we are called to meaningfully sacrifice as a similitude of the sacrifice of Jesus. In all honesty, I am sick of sacrifice. The worldwide pandemic has caused enough sacrifice to go around. I guess if the truth be told, I’m not feeling Lent this year. Yet in the midst of my struggle, I am also incredibly excited about all of the remarkable things going on about us in our parish and in our diocese. We have a parish that continues to find new purpose and is growing…this past Sunday over 420 people viewed Morning Prayer. We are reaching souls even in the midst of our isolation. We are coalescing as a community of faith and we are finding new ways to be together. New ministries are burgeoning and yes…there is joy in this place. We are called to be…and hope abounds!

Still, what to do about Lent…this reflective time when, with purpose, we take stock of our lives and work with intention on areas where we fall short of the mark. Lent also is a time of self-sacrifice when we are called upon by the church to forgo some part of our life as symbolic gesture of sacrifice that reminds us of all that Christ forfeited for our sake.

This year instead of making a symbolic gesture of sacrifice (though it can’t hurt to eat less chocolate, meat or junk food or forgo alcohol) I am challenged, and I challenge you to give up some things that will make a real difference in your life and will vastly improve your relationship with God, neighbor and yourself. Below I’ve listed a few behaviors that are sinful. Some may apply in your life and some may not. Read the list slowly…ponder each item for a good long time. Be honest, do any of these behaviors apply to you? If you’ve answered yes to any, then jettison them. Get rid of the ones that do. Getting rid of these things will be good for your soul!

What to Give up…

Give up complaining—focus on gratitude.
Give up pessimism—become an optimist.
Give up harsh judgments—think kindly thoughts.
Give up pride—work toward humility.
Give up worry—trust Divine Providence.
Give up discouragement—be full of hope.
Give up bitterness—turn to forgiveness.
Give up hatred—return goodness for evil.
Give up negativism—be positive.
Give up anger—be more patient.
Give up pettiness—become mature.
Give up gloom—enjoy the beauty that is all around you.
Give up jealousy—celebrate the gifts and successes of others.
Give up gossiping—control your tongue.
Give up sin—turn to virtue.
Give up giving up—hang in there, in God all things are possible.

A final thought and challenge… It is true that Lent is time to intentionally reflect on life and on ways we can let go of destructive and sinful habits of being. Notwithstanding, Lent can also be time to reflect with intention and joy on ways in which God has blessed us…each one of us…uniquely, personally, and mercifully. One of the simplest ways I know to acknowledge God’s mercy and grace in my life is to pass it on. So, this Lent, join me, make a commitment to perform one random act of kindness for someone you love, for one with whom you are in conflict or even for a total stranger. Hope abounds!

Merciful Blessings,

Dean Sam+
FRESNO INTERFAITH SCHOLAR WEEKEND
ISW 2021 Webinar Series
"Bearing Witness from Fresno's Mason-Dixon Line"

Join us for six interfaith conversations every Monday, as we consider what it means to "Bear Witness" to Fresno's history of racism and redlining.

Date: Every Monday, February 15 -March 22, 2021
Time: 4 p.m. PST
Location: Zoom

Registration on Eventbrite is coming. All sessions are free and will be recorded. For more information, visit their homepage.

WEEK 1: OPENING PANEL, 90 Minutes
Moderated by Andrew Fiala, PhD, Director of the Ethics Center, Fresno State University

Guest Scholars:
Malik Simba, PhD, Professor Emeritus of History and Africana Studies, Fresno State University
Nathan Hensley, PhD, Associate Professor of English, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Uziel Jimenez, Antiracist Educator, Co-founder Fresno Ethnic Studies Coalition

Each of our three guest scholars has made an important contribution to the study of racism and redlining in Fresno. Speaking from different vantage points, life experiences, and scholarly pursuits, they ask what it means to bear witness, and who gets to tell their story.

WEEK 2-5 BOOK STUDY, 60 Minutes
Representatives from four faith traditions and respondents take a deep dive into Eddie S. Glaude Jr.'s best-selling book, Begin Again: James Baldwin's America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own.

WEEK 6: CLOSING ROUNDTABLE, 90 Minutes
Our three guest scholars return for a powerful discussion with four interfaith speakers on lessons learned and the urgent questions we must ask in order to call forth a new America in our communities.
ANGELA AND RICO BABY SHOWER
Join us in our excitement as we celebrate the upcoming
double additions to our Diocese!

February 20, 2021 @ 2-4pm

Gift opening and toast at 2:30 pm
Please bring your favorite beverage
for a toast!
If you would like to send cards, please send them to the Cathedral:

Angela Lerena
4147 E. Dakota Ave.
Fresno, CA 93726
Packages should be sent to: (In order for them to arrive on time for the shower, please send by Monday, February 15th!)

Angela Lerena
c/o Nancy Key
Key Writing Concepts
2503 West Shaw #102
Fresno, CA 93711

Gifts can also be dropped off in person at the Cathedral on Sunday, February 7th or 14th from 11 am - 12 pm or Wednesday, February 17th between 11 am - 2 pm.

(PS…they live in a renovated ‘Tiny’ School Bus, so space-efficient items are appreciated! You can see pictures on Instagram: our.bus.atlas)
COVID-19 INFORMATION FOR FRESNO COUNTY
Vaccine clinic locations are still being added by the county. Watch for more details on our website, Facebook page, and in upcoming Midweek Missives. Visit the link below for Fresno County's COVID-19 response page for testing and vaccinations.
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS
Contact Dean Sam if you are interested in working with him on the Buildings and Grounds Team. There is much to be done, and you can make a difference. You can reach him at 415-758-1904.
STEWARDSHIP 2021
Thank you for your generosity to the Cathedral and to all who call St. James home. Your pledges are needed to make the good work happen here. It isn't too late. Pledge now below.
ENTERING THE PASSION OF JESUS
A Beginner's Guide to Holy Week
Soul Tenders small group will begin a six week Lenten Zoom study of the Passion of Jesus, Wednesday evenings, 6:50 p.m., February 24 through March 31, 2021. "Entering the Passion of Jesus" author, professor, and biblical scholar, Amy-Jill Levine, explores the biblical texts surrounding the Passion story. Professor Levine shows us how the text raises ethical and spiritual questions for the reader, and how we all face risk in our Christian experience. To participate please call 559-439-5011 or email soultenders@stjamesfresno.org to register.
Preacher: The Reverend Nancy Key, Deacon
Date: Sunday, January 31, 2021
WORSHIP

St. James offers Sunday worship each Sunday at 10:00AM on our YouTube Channel, Facebook Page, and Website. Archives of these services are available.
SERVICE PROGRAMS

Starting this Sunday, we will once again begin offering digital service programs. Visit the St. James website to download the program. If possible, for our creation care work, please do not print the program.
SERVICE SURVEY

To help us improve our digital church experience, please evaluate your experience of our "live stream service," by taking a moment to complete a short survey following Sunday's service.
PRE-CYCLE
IMAGE COURTESY OF PRECYCLE
Pay attention to food packaging. “Pre-cycle” by purchasing food with minimal packaging and avoiding individually wrapped items.
DIGITAL COFFEE - SUNDAYS AT 11AM
To participate, log into the Cathedral Coffee Hour on Zoom. The meeting password is "james4147". You can also join the conversation by phone. Call (669) 900-6833 and enter the meeting ID 821-8772-3828. You will be prompted to enter the phone password "492292".
PASTORAL CARE
The clergy of St. James remain deeply committed to offering pastoral care and support to members of the Cathedral Congregation especially during this difficult time. If a pastoral need arises for you or someone you know in the congregation, and you want to contact the clergy, please either email us at clergy@stjamesfresno.org or call the Cathedral office at (559) 439-5011 and select option 5 to leave a message for the clergy.
DIOCESAN CYCLE OF PRAYER
This week we lift up in our prayers St. Sherrians, Kernville.
Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Hailey, Idaho, never ceased to be a place of worship, but for one month in 2019, it took on an additional role – indie film set.
The Episcopal Church’s Executive Council pledged to assist cash-strapped dioceses during the pandemic, committed the church to “deradicalization” efforts after the U.S. Capitol riot and received an update on a racial audit of church leadership, during a four-day meeting at which current events influenced much of the agenda.
The Diocese of Oklahoma raised more than $164,000 in its annual Bishop’s Appeal, but the money will not support Episcopal ministries this year. Instead, Oklahoma Bishop Poulson Reed traveled to Tulsa this week to present the diocese’s fundraising proceeds to the Historic Vernon African Methodist Episcopal Church to bolster the congregation’s racial healing work and pandemic food ministry.
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry held a virtual Morning Prayer service with nine members of Congress and some of their staffers on Jan. 26, sharing memories and stories that he hoped would inspire the kind of faith that might guide them through these challenging times.
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.