eConnections - August 24, 2025
eConnections
The Weekend of The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
(Year C, Proper 16, Track 2)
August 24, 2025
The Dean's List
Bon Voyage Liz & Tom Burman
Join us this Sunday at the 10:30 service to bid farewell-for-now to Liz & Tom Burman who are heading eastward for a year-long sabbatical residency at Princeton University.
Cathedral Hall Progress
Matthew and the Retirees* have been working diligently to bring about the transformation of Cathedral Hall into a truly beautiful and functional gathering space. All that remains for the crew this week is paint touch-ups, shoe molding, and installation of video monitors. On Tuesday, a professional floor cleaning service will spruce up the terrazzo, as well as the kitchen floor. After a deep clean of the kitchen later in the week, Cathedral Hall will be ready to go!
The question du jour: Now that the lower level of the Church is fully accessible, should Sunday morning hospitality return to Cathedral Hall, or should we continue to host it at the back of the Church? There are compelling arguments for both. Among the arguments for Cathedral Hall is that it is significantly easier for hospitality set-up and clean-up, it saves wear and tear on the carpet in the church, and it frees up space at the back of the church for other purposes. The principal argument for keeping it at the back of the church is that visitors are more inclined to stay for hospitality if it is easily and obviously available. Let me know what you think.
Either way, we hope to host hospitality hour in Cathedral Hall on Sunday, August 31.
*Matthew is Matthew Worns. The Retirees are (in alphabetical order by first name): Al Whitfield, Betsy VanderBurg, Dave Woods, Kirk Philippsen, Mike McCrea, and Dave Woods. If I have forgotten anyone, it is likely due to the recent crossing of the Rubicon towards my dotage. In all seriousness, this group has done amazing work.
Garden Progress
On Tuesday evening, the Cathedral Chapter voted to move forward with the installation of the labyrinth, which will soon be a key feature of the Butterfly Garden. A labyrinth is a tool for spiritual reflection and prayer that is accomplished - quite literally - by centering. The labyrinth we are considering is based upon a design at the Cathedral at Chartres. Ours will be formed by brick pavers laid over a leveled and compacted base. The installation work will be done professionally by John Pemberton. As for a completion date, we don't know that yet. It will depend largely upon how long it takes The Labyrinth Company to produce it. You can check out the design here.
The Chapter spoke for quite a while about the merits of a labyrinth, ultimately concluding that this is an important way for us to extend spiritual space into the heart of the city where it is freely accessible to all, whether as a labyrinth or a beautiful art installation in the midst of a garden. Further, the labyrinth will also provide a useful outdoor gathering space for the Cathedral community.
The labyrinth proposal also included a bid to install concrete sidewalks that will connect our entrance to the sidewalk on West Washington Street, which was part of the architectural plan that was approved by the city (and therefore required). The sidewalks will lead to the labyrinth in the middle, which means that much of the garden will be wheelchair and walker accessible.
Also this week: workers from WISSCO installed irrigation in the Butterfly Garden. Rather than opting for a traditional sprinkler system, the Buildings & Grounds Committee requested that spigots be installed in underground boxes at several locations. This allows us greater flexibility in directing water where it is needed, lets us use the system for cleaning tools, boots, and hands, and stows away so that it is not easily broken (hopefully).
And: Given that the labyrinth and concrete work will take up a wee bit more than the remaining Garden budget (which is still covered by available funds), we are offering opportunities to sponsor construction of garden boxes as part of our Unity Gardens project. Sponsorships at $100 or more will go a long way towards materials and construction of the raised beds required for vegetable gardening on our site. Details are available at the back of the church. I will provide more information next week :)
Prayer Vigil at Miami Correctional Facility
Received from our colleagues in the United Methodist Church this week:
Clergy, church leaders, and people of faith will gather outside the Miami Correctional Facility on Monday, August 25 at 2:00 pm for a public prayer vigil in support of the immigrant community and in lament for the immigrant detention system.
The vigil is being planned by leaders from The Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church, but will include other Christian denominations and communities. The gathering will include Scripture readings, songs, and prayer calling for compassion, dignity, and justice for immigrants and refugees. Those in attendance will stand in prayerful solidarity with the immigrant community and call attention to the urgent need for humane treatment of all people.
Bishop Tracy Smith Malone of the Indiana United Methodist Church recently wrote, “Many in our [Indiana] Conference have expressed deep concerns about what such facilities would mean for justice, compassion, and the God-given dignity of every person—especially those who are most vulnerable among us. As the body of Christ, we must not remain silent in the face of language or policy that diminishes human dignity.”
We will gather to pray for those who are detained, for their families, and for a system that better reflects mercy, justice, and love.
Community members, people of all faiths, and the public are invited to attend. Clergy are invited to wear clergy collars and red stoles. For more information contact Rev. Chris Lantz at chris.lantz@inumc.org or Rev. Matt Landry at matt.landry@inumc.org.
Event Details:
Date: Monday, August 25, 2025
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Miami Correctional Facility, at the southwest corner of W 800 S and Highway 31
St. Margaret's House Renovation
We enjoy an especially close relationship with St. Margaret's House, whom we proudly refer to as our primary ministry partner in South Bend. SMH was founded through the efforts of Deacon Sarah Tracy with the support of many Cathedral women and Bishop Frank Gray in 1990. It was established on the first floor of "The Peterson Building," which is owned by the Cathedral, but they have since expanded to every corner of every floor as their amazing work with women and children as grown.
St. Margaret's House has now outgrown their facilities altogether, both physically and missionally. Deliberations by SMH leaders over the past few years about renovating the existing facilities to meet their needs or moving to new facilities favored the former, with a strong sense of location within the city and partnership with the Cathedral among the reasons to stay. With that decision made, architects and designers developed a plan for a thorough renovation and a three-story addition to the building. DJ Construction will commence work on the estimated $8 million project as soon as January 2026.
During renovation and construction, St. Margaret's House will move in with us. The hope is that their services, while limited during this time, can continue uninterrupted as close to their usual location as possible. Cathedral leadership is working with SMH leadership to work out clear agreements for space utilization, cost sharing, and tech infrastructure. This will present some interesting opportunities for adaptive learning, I'm sure, but it will also bring energy and vitality to our facilities through the week when our facilities sit otherwise largely unused. We expect this arrangement to last a year or more, depending upon construction completion estimates which, as we well know, are rather fluid.
Stay tuned for more information as we make progress towards this very, very outward and visible sign of the inward and spiritual grace of hospitality and partnership!
Christian Formation for Children
We are taking a fresh look at our ministry with children at the Cathedral of Saint James. Fr. Mark Hummell, parents, and teachers have been in conversation over the summer about how we might better serve children and families alike.
We will begin by focusing on their engagement with and involvement in Sunday morning worship. We will once again have age-appropriate activity sheets that relate to the lessons of the day available. We are also creating the jobs of "candle-lighter" for younger children (under adult supervision) and carrier-upper-to-the-altar-of-donations-to-St. Margaret's House. Other simple changes to our liturgy - such as a children's message, kid-friendly music, and involving children as readers and alms bearers, etc - are in the offing as well.
One of the chief concerns expressed by parents is the amount of time children are asked to be at church and attentive on Sunday morning, consistently stretching to three hours from the beginning of Sunday school to a short stay at hospitality hour. So we're changing that. In the 9:15 - 10:15 am time slot, we will continue to have our Through the Years intergenerational program once a month. This offering has proved very engaging and fun for children, and does the - and I can't emphasize this enough - extremely important work of fostering meaningful relationships between children and adults within the Christian community. Through the Years will be coordinated by a small team and will focus thematically throughout the school year. As as been our practice in the past, Adult Forum will not meet on Sundays when Through the Years is scheduled in order to encourage everyone's participation.
On other Sundays, children's formation will NOT be offered in the 9:15 - 10:15 time slot. We are still working out details on how to open the nursery so that children of choir members and adult forum participants are tended to.
In addition to all of that, I am imagining a simple, periodic newsletter (weekly? monthly? seasonally?) sent via snail-mail to children with a brief message and activities for kids (and parents) along these four themes: Bible, Prayer, Worship, and Stewardship. These four basic components of a Rule of Life offer a roadmap for How To Be Christian. Parents will have to opt-in for their child(ren) to receive the newsletter (and can always opt out), but I am hearkening back to my childhood and remembering how fun it was to receive anything in the mail addressed to me. More than that, though, I am interested in finding a way to continue the vital work of catechesis in a way that works for children and parents alike.
If you are inspired to help with any part of this, or wish to offer your thoughts on ways we can build a ministry with children, please do not hesitate to speak with Fr. Mark or me.
Blessings,
Brian
Worship
Formation & Spirituality
Fellowship & Fun
Outreach & Evangelism
Cathedral Calendar
Saturday, August 23
No Events Scheduled
Sunday, August 24
The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Year C, Proper 16, Track 2
8:00 am
Holy Eucharist: Rite One
9:00 am
Intercessory Prayer
10:30 am
Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
11:45 am
Intercessory Prayer
11:45 am
Hospitality Hour
Monday, August 25 St Bartholomew the Apostle
Cathedral Office: Closed
No Events Scheduled
Tuesday, August 26
Cathedral Office Hours: 9 am - 1:30 pm
2:00 pm
EDNIN Clergy/Lay Leader Touchbase
Wednesday, August 27 Thomas Gallaudet & Henry Winter Syle
Cathedral Office Hours: By Appointment
7:00 pm
Choir Practice
Thursday, August 28 Augustine of Hippo
Cathedral Office Hours: 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
6:00 pm
Pizza Fellowship Macri's Italian Kitchen
Friday, August 29 The Beheading of St John the Baptist
Cathedral Office Hours: 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
12:05 pm
Holy Eucharist
1:00 pm
Community Lunch at Grill 362
Saturday, August 30
No Events Scheduled
Sunday, August 31 Labor Day Weekend
The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
Year C, Proper 17, Track 2
8:00 am
Holy Eucharist: Rite One
10:30 am
Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
11:45 am
Hospitality Hour
Cathedral Prayer List
Collect for Proper 16
Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Anniversaries & Birthdays
Aug 26 Jack Laney
Aug 26 Marci Adams-Ullery
Aug 28 Franklin Sheneman
For Your Prayers
• For the repose of the soul of Esau Whitfield, brother of Al Whitfield and for all their family.
• For the repose of the soul of Henry Whitfield, uncle of Al Whitfield and for all their family.
• For the repose of the soul of Samuel Gibson, father of Chris Gibson, and for the entire Gibson family.
• For the repose of the soul of Janet Grantz, mother of Dean Brian Grantz, and for the entire Grantz and Glenn families.
• For the repose of the soul of John Monroe, brother of Sue Fain.
• For the Demler and Martindale families
• Siberina Taylor, Joe Anand-Obleton's Mother, for health & recovery
• Michael Anand-Obleton
• Juan Jacob Allen Obleton, Joe Anand-Obleton's youngest brother
• Angela Otis-Ashby, Joe Anand-Obleton's cousin
• Shaun Ashby, Angela's husband
• Shirley Ashby
• Roland Ashby
• Joseph Obleton, Joe Anand-Obleton's father
• Elizabeth Gains, Joe Anand-Obleton's Father’s Mother
• For Ms. Laura Byrd
• For Scott Peters
• Trish O’Connor
• Kathleen O’Connor
• Kitty Ward
• Jean Smith
• Michelle Miller
• Billy Hans, for comfort in grief and for Patty Hans
• Dorothea Felix
• Tina Velthuizen
• Donnie Zigler
• Derek, for guidance
• For Joseph Hilliard, for strength & guidance
• Joyce, for strength & guidance
• Marshall Moore, for strength & guidance
• Robin & Laurie, for healing from health issues
• Gideon and his family, for healing, strength, and guidance
• Helene Daugherty-Randles, for healing.
• For David, who has thyroid cancer.
• For Rick Hillard.
• For Joshua Henderson, brother of Chris Henderson.
• For James Ellar, high school classmate of Mike Jaworski, who has a recurrence of cancer.
• For Willow Grace Wilson, daughter of Connor Wilson & Genesis Dylewski
• For Deb Walter, friend of Sherry Berkley
• For Steven Mast
• For Elaine Mick
• For the Proffitt Family and for the Hillman Family
• Corey Davis and Kenya Pearson
• Mary Brooks
• Jamie, Mimi, Joely, Mia, and the entire Jeter Family
• Bill Jones and his family
• For Mary Beth Wright
• For Richard Murphy Jr. and Jill Bird
• Mary M. Burman
• Carolynn Raney
• For Joan Machatton
• Jim Arns
• For Cindy Ahlgrim
• For Joni Carlson, who continues treatment of an ongoing issue
• For Mike Jaworski and for Lisa.
• For Michael, son of Diane Hoist, and his family.
• For Tim Haywood, and Janice
• Fred & Kate Mast
• Paula Fowler
• Connor Gibbons
• Olivia, who has leukemia, and her family
• Sheila & family
• Alan Thompson
• Tony Molnar
• Dan & Gail Mandell
• Ron Gunn
• Alissa Broussara
• Cherryl Andries
• Becky Ballentine
• Marge Johnson
• Jo Dorsch
• Sharron McGowan
• Joyce Marchant
• Fr. Paul Tracy
• Richard Bitner
• Al Caparell; Tony Lemna; Mike; Denise & Demetrius
• For those expecting children: Delilah Allsop & Joe MacFarland
• For those preparing for Holy Orders: Nan Noecker, diaconate
How may we pray for you? To add (or remove) a petition from the Cathedral Prayer List, please send an email to Deacon Clay Berkley. If you are requesting prayer for someone else, please make sure you have their permission to add their name and any details to the prayer list.
Ministry Schedule
Sunday, August 24: The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
8:00 am
Reader Patty Hans
Server Nan Noecker
10:30 am
Readers Liz Burman & Kirk Philippsen
Eucharistic Ministers Helene Dauerty-Randles, Ed Randles
Ushers Dave Woods, Mike McCrea
Acolytes Ainsley Gray, Bear Kallenberg, Jack Laney
Hospitality Daughters of the King
Linens Deborah Drendall
Sacristan Volunteer Needed
Tuesday, August 26
Counters Liz Burman & Donna Woods
Friday, August 29
Folder DeDe Guth