VOLUME 2, ISSUE 9
MARCH 27, 2020
The Fifth Sunday in Lent
Exodus 3:16-4:12
Psalm 118
Romans 12:1-21
John 8:16-59
MORNING PRAYER SERVICE
SUN. MARCH 29 - 10:00AM
Officiants: Cathedral/Diocese Staff Clergy
Preacher: Bishop Rice
SUNDAY WORSHIP
SUNDAYS @ 10:00AM
ALL ON-CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL APRIL 20

LENTEN EDUCATION SERIES
WEDNESDAYS @ 7:00PM

SERMON DISCUSSION
HOSTED BY THE DEAN
SUNDAY, MARCH 29 @ 11:00AM

BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS
SATURDAY, APRIL 4 @ 9:00AM

PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
SUNDAY, APRIL 5 @ 11:30AM

Like so many of you, I find myself confined to our house except for a brief daily walk in our neighbor with Erin and Lexie. Due to my recent health challenges, I have actually been housebound for eight weeks. This is a difficult experience for all us, but it is the best course of action to protect others and ourselves.

Being housebound can be lonely and difficult. Technology allows us to connect with the outside world and do things like attend church. Most importantly, I want to encourage all us to utilize our technological tools (phone, email, text, etc.) and good old fashion pen and paper to continue connecting regularly with others!

I want to invite you each day to use the directory in MYSJ and call up someone in the congregation--bonus points to individuals who call people they do not know in the directory. Introduce yourself to someone new. Share a few moments of conversation. Check-in about one's health and well-being. Pray for one another--either silently or aloud.

In closing, I want to pass along some important information as we navigate life temporarily as a "digital cathedral."
DIGITAL ANNOUNCEMENTS TO LAUNCH MONDAY

Starting this Monday, March 30, the St. James Staff will broadcast on our YouTube Channel, Facebook Page, and Website at 6:00PM "Weekly Video Announcements." The announcements will be available 24/7 on our broadcast channels so they do not need to be viewed live. The goal is for Dean Ryan, Deacons Angela, Nancy, and Terrance, and Kourinthia to spend five minutes with you catching you up on the latest news from the Cathedral and to highlight some very important announcements and information.
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.

We (worship communities throughout the country) are discovering that Facebook Live can be a little temperamental especially on Sunday mornings with so many churches worshiping digitally at the same time. We are also discovering, YouTube, is the most reliable streaming site--it makes sense--YouTube is designed for people to stream digital content; whereas Facebook, streaming live is an add-on service to their platform.
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.
SUNDAY SERMON DISCUSSION

Sunday, March 22 at 11:00AM-12:00PM
Following the 10:00AM Morning Prayer service, Dean Ryan will host a sermon discussion. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and join us for the conversation. Participate either through Zoom: Sermon Discussion or call-in (669) 900-6833 and enter the meeting ID 675-773-097.
DIGITAL PRAYER LIST

In response to multiple requests, St. James will launch early next week a "Digital Prayer List." In addition to seeing those people/things needing our prayers, you will be able submit a prayer request through an online. We invite you to bookmark the Prayer List page in your web browse and pray daily for those needs on the list
RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES

On the " St. James Together" site, there are links to a variety of online resources including resources for families. The resources are updated throughout the week. Here are some notable links:
LECTIONARY BASED READINGS & REFLECTIONS

CONTEMPLATIVE BIBLE STORYTELLING FOR CHILDREN

FAITH FORMATION FOR ALL AGES

FAMILY ACTIVITIES

ILLUSTRATED BOOK FOR CHILDREN
The Coronavirus Pandemic has forced us to temporarily move our Cathedral life into the digital realm. During this period, The St. James Together web page is the hub of our digital cathedral. We encourage to regular visit the web page.
HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
Even in our "digital reality," the Cathedral team in partnership the Diocese staff and clergy will offer an exceptional Holy Experience to our Cathedral community. Below is the worship schedule. We are still determining broadcast times for some live worships service.

All the Holy Week services will be broadcast across all the Cathedral's channels.
Palm Sunday
Sunday, April 5 at 10:00 AM

Morning Prayer
Monday, April 6 (TBD)

Diocese Chrism Mass
Tuesday, April 7 at 12:00 PM

Evening Prayer
Wednesday, April 7 (TBD)

Compline
Wednesday, April 8 (TBD)

Maundy Thursday
Thursday, April 9 (TBD)

Overnight Prayer Vigil
Thursday, April 9
(Following Maundy Thursday Service till Good Friday Service)

Stations of the Cross & Good Friday Liturgy
Friday, April 10 at 12:00PM

Holy Saturday
Saturday, April 11 at 9:00AM

Easter
Sunday, April 12 (TBD)
It is with profound sadness we share that Jerry DeGraff died Tuesday morning at his home surrounded by his family. More information will be shared in next week's Midweek Missive.
Almighty God, our Father in heaven, before whom live all who die in the Lord: Receive our brother Jerry into the courts of your heavenly dwelling place. Let his heart and soul now ring out in joy to you, O Lord, the living God, and the God of those who live. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Most merciful God, whose wisdom is beyond our understanding: Deal graciously with Sandy, Mark, Nick, and all of Jerry’s family and friends in their grief. Surround them with your love, that they may not be overwhelmed by their loss, but have confidence in your goodness, and strength to meet the days to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
YOUR CONTINUED FINANCIAL SUPPORT IS NEEDED
Congregation encouraged to shift to electronic giving methods
Canceling public worship is going to have an economic impact on the Cathedral. As the world around us changes, our common life together will need to adapt. However during the suspension of public worship and activities, the Cathedral will continue to pay St. James employees and will still incur operational costs. In order to meet our financial obligations, we ask that you continue to be generous stewards of St. James, maintain your pledge and giving, as you are able.

How do I maintain my pledge/giving if there are no gatherings? One of the best and easiest ways to maintain your pledge is to shift your giving method to either “Electronic Check” (ACH) or by credit card. Checks can still be mailed into the office.

If you would like to take advantage of the electronic options, please email us office@stjamesfresno.org or by phone phone (559) 439-5011 and let us know whether preference is a recurring or one-time gift either through electronic check or credit card. Please include a phone number where you can be reached. A staff or clergyperson will contact you to setup payment; the entire process takes only a few minutes.

Due to transactions fees, the preferred method is electronic check; however, we are also happy to accept credit cards. If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
PAST LIVE STREAM SERVICE AVAILABLE
Worship opportunities available 24/7 in archive
FOOD BANK EXPANSION PLANNED
Your support is needed to make this project a reality
Recently, the St. James Episcopal Cathedral Chapter approved the construction budget to move the Food Bank to a permanent location on campus, in the west wing of the former school building. While the chapter has approved expending some budgetary funds, we need your help to cover all expenses. 
 
Fortunately, an anonymous donor has agreed to provide a matching grant of up to $10,000 for donations from members of our congregations towards this Food Bank move and renovation.  
 
Won’t you help the Food Bank continue and improve its ministry to the 175 families who benefit from this program three times each month? We will be inviting the congregation to give to the project specifically at the next “Quarterly Food Bank Free-Will Offering” beginning on Sunday, March 1 and continuing for the entire month of March. Your contribution will then be doubled through the matching gift. 
 
Please make your check payable to St. James Cathedral and write in the notation section “Food Bank Construction.” Let’s match this. If we are able to raise sufficient funds, the Food Bank will be into the new location within the next two months. Thank you!
USE GREEN CLEANING PRODUCTS
Use surface sprays, detergents, wipes, and soap that are ethically sourced and have a low impact on the environment.
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE
The next meeting will be April 4th at 9:00AM and will held in a Zoom Conference .
Call in option: (669) 900-6833 and enter the meeting ID 738-270-106.
PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
The next meeting will be April 5th at 11:30AM and will held in a Zoom Conference.
Call in option: (669) 900-6833 and enter the meeting ID 378-306-618.
MEN'S GROUP
Postponed until further notice. Thank you for your understanding.
BIBLE STUDY- THE BOOK OF REVELATION
The next bible study meeting will be held after Easter. Look for more information in the coming weeks.
When it comes to providing pastoral care in times of crisis, the Rev. Tommy Dillon is about as prepared as any priest could be.

Dillon, the rector of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, learned the logistics of disaster response firsthand in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. While serving at a different church in Baton Rouge, Dillon helped feed 30,000 meals per day to Katrina evacuees through his family’s catering business and tended to the spiritual needs of the evacuees – all on top of his duties as a parish priest.
The once-a-decade gathering of the bishops of the Anglican Communion, which was to be held in Canterbury, Kent, in July and August this year, has been rescheduled for 2021 in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to its continuing news coverage of major developments in The Episcopal Church’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to contain the virus, Episcopal News Service is compiling various updates from congregations and ministries across the church. If you have a news item, email it to news@episcopalchurch.org. Updates will be added to the top of this page. Full ENS coverage of the church’s response to the new coronavirus can be found here.
As congregations, families, and individuals seek to live faithfully in these uncertain times, Church Publishing Incorporated is working to support you. We are making available an easy-to-navigate PDF version of the Book of Common Prayer , and other free resources for devotional use.
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.