eConnections - November 30, 2025
eConnections
The Weekend of the First Sunday of Advent
(Year A, Advent 1)
November 30, 2025
The Dean's List
Advent
The first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of the new Church year. This new season is marked in worship with a change to purple vestments and paraments, the presence of an Advent wreath, and readings (in Lectionary Year A) from Matthew’s Gospel. Unlike the world around us wherein Christmas celebrations are in full swing, our focus through the first part of Advent is decidedly apocalyptic, pointing towards the coming calamity, trial, and tribulation that warn us of the harrowing, yet logical, conclusion of human history. The hope of Advent is the coming of Christ, both looking forward to the triumph of Love in the eternal reign of Christ (eschatology) and looking backward to the coming of Christ into the world in Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem (incarnation). Advent is truly supposed to be a season of watching, waiting, and preparing. I am not so naïve to think we can set cultural Christmas aside in a beautifully wrapped box until December 25, but please take time to pray, to ponder, to prepare, to slow down in order to focus on the coming of Christ into the world.
Blessings,
Brian
December Worship & Events
Stewardship
Formation & Spirituality
Outreach & Evangelism
Cathedral Calendar
Saturday, November 29
No Events Scheduled
Sunday, November 30
The First Sunday of Advent
Year A: Advent 1
8:00 am
Holy Eucharist: Rite One
10:30 am
Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
11:45 am
Hospitality Hour
Monday, December 1 Saint Andrew
Cathedral Office: Closed
6:00 pm
Education for Ministry
Tuesday, December 2 Channing Moore Williams
Cathedral Office: Closed
Fr Brian & Joe Anand-Obleton on leave
No Events Scheduled
Wednesday, December 3 Francis Xavier
Cathedral Office Hours by appointment
Joe Anand-Obleton on leave
8:30 am
Assistance Ministry
7:00 pm
Cathedral Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, December 4 John of Damascus
Cathedral Office Hours by appointment
Joe Anand-Obleton on leave
No Events Scheduled
Friday, December 5 Clement of Alexandria
Cathedral Office Hours by appointment
Joe Anand-Obleton on leave
12:05 pm
Holy Eucharist
1:00 pm
Community Lunch at Grill 362
Saturday, December 6 Nicholas of Myra
No Events Scheduled
Sunday, December 7
The Second Sunday of Advent
Year A: Advent 2
8:00 am
Holy Eucharist: Rite One
9:15 am
Adult Forum with Fr. Mark Hummell
10:30 am
Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
11:45 am
Hospitality Hour
Youth Group
Cathedral Prayer List
Collect for the First Sunday of Advent
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Anniversaries & Birthdays
Nov 30 Clara Campbell
Dec 01 Mike Swadener (78)
Dec 03 Philip Drendall
Dec 03 Gay & Mike McCrea (48)
Dec 05 Kate Lee
Dec 06 Tayo Banjo
For Your Prayers
This list is from November 16. The current list will be available at the Cathedral on Sunday morning or email Deacon Clay Berkley for a copy.
For the repose of the soul of Patrick Allen White; for his family and friends.
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 30: The First Sunday of Advent
8:00 am
Reader Jane Hunter
Server Volunteer Needed
10:30 am
Readers Amanda Helfrich & Peg Swadener
Eucharistic Ministers Andy Helfrich, Matthew Worns
Ushers Erica Vitale, Mike Worns
Acolytes Cynthia Katsarelis, Bear Kallenberg, Ainsley Gray
Hospitality Tina Velthuizen
Linens Cindy Laney
Sacristan Volunteer Needed
Tuesday, December 2
Counters Rick Hilliard & Dave Woods
Friday, December 5
Folder DeDe Guth