eConnections - November 16, 2025
eConnections
The Weekend of the Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost
(Year C, Proper 28, Track Two)
November 16, 2025
The Dean's List
Stories of Blessing
I.
One of our homeless friends sought shelter from this past week's impressive burst of winter weather.by remaining inside the Cathedral after hours... undetected until a motion sensor finally told on him. We couldn't put him out on the street in the middle of a snowstorm, so we gave him temporary lodging in the now-empty TOD for the night with the understanding that we would work on a better solution for him the next morning. As it turned out, his best bet was the Weather Amnesty program at the Center for the Homeless, so I left the Chapter meeting briefly that evening to drive him down the street. Having never taken anyone to Weather Amnesty before, I wasn't entirely sure how it worked so, seeing a few people lined up outside, I pulled my car over, hoped out, and said in the general direction of those assembled, "Excuse me, does anyone know..." Before I could finish my question, a few people in line interrupted me, saying, "Father Brian! What are you doing here?" When I explained the situation, one man who we've helped at the Cathedral off and on for many years said, "Don't worry. I'll take care of him." He then guided the man I brought around to the correct door, telling him on the way not to worry and what he could expect once he was inside.
II.
Today we welcomed guests, staff, and board members from Saint Margaret's House and several members of Cathedral community for a celebration of the Feast of Saint Margaret of Scotland. As the old adage goes, sometimes things are greater than the sum of their parts. When the thing we are describing is worship, we call that experience transcendent, which today certainly was. It is a fool's errand to attempt to describe how or why this happens because the very act of naming it diminishes the experience. It just did. It was profoundly good to be there, gathered in prayer, celebrating a Saint - an eleventh century woman - who parlayed her status and profound Christian faith into love and compassion for the poor, the sick, and the suffering.
Many thanks to our excellent readers from SMH; to Julia Lincicum for her great work coordinating this service on the SMH side; to Dr. Steven Wietstock for wonderful music; to Deacon Clay Berkley for taking time to be there; to Betsy VanderBurg and DeDe Guth (and probably others) who orchestrated the reception; and to every one of the 60+ people who attended the service.
III.
Following the Noon Eucharist, a group of us headed out to Grill 362, as has been our custom since shortly after Simeri's closed a few years ago. The food at Grill 362 is basic American pub fare; decent, but not exceptional. The reason we continue to go has everything to do with our exceptional waitress, who knows all of our names, has our drinks ready on the table even before we sit down, knows the quirky ordering patterns of each patron, and - when it's time to leave - tells us how much she loves us and insists on hugging each of us before we head out the door.
Months ago, when celebrating the birthday of one of our members, I brought flowers as a gift. Our waitress made a point to say how beautiful they were and make a fuss over the birthday girl. I asked at that time when her birthday was and added it to my Google calendar. So today, we brought flowers again and placed them on the table without comment. Our waitress commented on how beautiful they were, to which I replied, "Good, I'm glad you like them. They're for you." Then we all sang happy birthday. She cried. She went around the table to hug each of us, even the person who was with us for the first time today.
No one had ever given her a bouquet of flowers before.
IV.
Kindness makes the world immeasurably better.
Blessings,
Brian
Stewardship
Worship
Formation & Spirituality
Fellowship
Outreach & Evangelism
Cathedral Calendar
Saturday, November 15 Herman of Alaska
9:00 am
Diocesan Convention
Trinity Church, Michigan City
Sunday, November 16
The Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost
Year C: Proper 28, Track 2
8:00 am
Holy Eucharist: Rite One
9:15 am
Adult Forum: Diocesan Convention Review
10:30 am
Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
11:45 am
Hospitality Hour
Youth Group
Monday, November 17 Hugh of Lincoln
Cathedral Office: Closed
6:00 pm
Education for Ministry
Tuesday, November 18 Hilda of Whitby
Cathedral Office Hours: 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
Fr Brian & Dcn Anne on leave
No Events Scheduled
Wednesday, November 19 Elizabeth of Hungary
Cathedral Office Hours: 9 am - 1:30 pm
Fr. Brian & Dcn Anne on leave
2:00 pm
EDNIN Clergy & Lay Leaders Meeting
5:30 pm
Daughters of the King Meeting
7:00 pm
Choir Practice
Thursday, November 20 Edmund of East Anglia
Cathedral Office Hours: 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
Fr. Brian & Dcn Anne on leave
No Events Scheduled
Friday, November 21 Mechthilde of Hackeborn & Gertrude the Great
Cathedral Office Hours: 9 am - 1:30 pm
Fr Brian & Dcn Anne on leave
8:30 am
Stanley Clark School Service Day
12:05 pm
Holy Eucharist
1:00 pm
Community Lunch at Grill 362
Saturday, November 22 C.S. Lewis
10:00 am
EDNIN Commission on Ministry Meeting
Sunday, November 23
The Last Sunday after Pentecost: Christ the King Sunday
Year C: Proper 29, Track 2
8:00 am
Holy Eucharist: Rite One
9:00 am
Intercessory Prayer
9:15 am
Through the Years All Generations Program
10:30 am
Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
11:45 am
Intercessory Prayer
Hospitality Hour
12:30 pm
Fellowship of St. John
Cathedral Prayer List
Collect for Proper 28
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Stewardship Prayer
God, our Creator, may our gifts honor the work you have given us to do here in this place. May we bless, break, and share our offerings of time, talent, and treasure with our neighbors, proclaiming the Good News to the world in all we say and do. Amen.
Anniversaries & Birthdays
Nov 16 Joann Dorsch
Nov 17 Dana Sparks
Nov 17 Richard & Ginger Bitner (58)
Nov 18 Nan Noecker
Nov 19 Joe Guth (86)
Nov 21 Tony Lemna
Nov 22 Brian & Tamisyn Grantz (39)
Nov 22 Dick & Virginia Logan (74)
For Your Prayers
For the repose of the soul of Arlys Poppke, Steve’s Aunt (who died earlier this week, in Bismarck, ND) and peace for Judy & Bruce, their families & Steve’s mother, Gladys
For the repose of the soul of Diane Lee Hiser, mother of Kate Lee
Elizabeth Gains, Joe Anand-Obleton’s Grandmother, , for health, hope, and peace.
For Joseph Obelton Sr., Joe Anand-Obleton’s father, for physical and mental health and peace
For Amiltonna (Manny) Briseneau, for guidance, patience, wisdom, hope, and strength.
For Siberina Taylor, Joe Anand-Obleton's Mother, , for companions, friends, health, guidance, steadfastness, hope, and peace.
For Charles Kegg
For Joni Carlson's brother
Daniel & Amy Petry, parents of Amanda Helfrich
For Cecelia Beattie, Goddaughter of Liz and Tom Burman, and for her entire family
For Deacon Anne Wietstock as she recovers from surgery
For Donna Baker, Jo Dorsch’s sister, who is hospitalized
For Joe Anand-Obelton and for his husband, Michael Anand-Obelton
For Brittany San Felipe, daughter of Erica Vitale, who was in a serious car accident
For Julie Guiler, DeDe’s Stepdaughter
For Bill Young, Catherine Craker’s Father
For Karen Slack
For Megan, Dr. Steve Wietstock's niece
For the Demler and Martindale families
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
Trish O’Connor
Kathleen O’Connor
Kitty Ward
Jean Smith
Michelle Miller
Billy Hans, for comfort in grief and for Patty Hans
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
For David, who has thyroid cancer.
For Rick Hillard.
For Joshua Henderson, brother of Chris Henderson.
James Ellar, high school classmate of Mike Jaworski, who has a recurrence of cancer.
For Willow Grace Wilson, daughter of Connor Wilson and Amanda Dilewski
For Deb Walter, friend of Sherry Berkley
For Elaine Mick
For the Proffitt Family and for the Hillman Family
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 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 for 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 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, November 16: The 23nd Sunday after Pentecost
8:00 am
Reader Michael Pippenger
Server Mary Young-Marcks
10:30 am
Readers Randy Colburn & Sherry Berkley
Eucharistic Ministers Bunmi Banjo, Rick Hilliard
Ushers Kay & Reg Klopfenstein
Acolytes Freddy Kallenberg, Zeke Kallenberg, Jack Laney
Hospitality Lisa Philippsen
Linens Celeste Hilliard
Sacristan Betsy VanderBurg
Wednesday, November 18
Counters Mary Lehman & Peg Swadener
Friday, November 21
Folder Norris Whitfield