eConnections - May 18, 2025
eConnections
The Weekend of the Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 18, 2025
The Dean's List
Youth Sunday was Awesome :)
Thank you to our teenagers and adult leaders for their planning, care, and energy in leading a most memorable and fun worship service.
In the News
The Cathedral of Saint James received a very nice write-up on our accessibility project in the South Bend Tribune this week. You can read the article here.
Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe made news this past week when he announced that the Episcopal Church would not participate in the resettlement of 49 white South Africans classified as refugees by the US government who had been fast-tracked for immigration to the United States (read Bishop Rowe's letter here). This decision led to an outcry from the Trump administration and its supporters, calling for an end to any federal funding of Episcopal Church programs. To be clear, most - if not all - federal funding received by Episcopal Migration Ministries had already been cancelled by the Trump administration earlier this year, leading to layoffs of most EMM staff and all but ending the Episcopal Church's resettlement program. And, to be clear, The Episcopal Church's long-standing (and much needed) work on anti-racism as a core Gospel value arising from the inherent dignity and worth of all people raised profound moral concerns about a fast-track for white refugees while all other racial categories of refugees are being denied entry or deported. We are not alone in this. The Roman Catholic Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and other faith groups have already withdrawn from participation in federally funded refugee resettlement programs, which leads me to suspect that this request of the Episcopal Church was purely performative, intended with our "yes" to draw us into tacit complicity with a racist policy or with our "no" to foment increased animosity towards the Episcopal Church specifically and faith traditions that dare stand up for justice more broadly. We have chosen the better part.
The threat of withdrawal of federal funds is largely an empty gesture; that's not how the church is funded, which the administration well knows. The real damage to the church will happen in two ways: 1) by fomenting strife and making it extremely uncomfortable for people of one stripe or another to continue to support religious communities who state positions on political policies; and 2) by withdrawing tax-exempt status for not-for-profit entities (as has been threatened against many colleges and universities, including Notre Dame) that do not subscribe to the values of the administration. Both strategies are intended to bring ruin to non-adhering institutions, including the church, thereby silencing opposition to all manner of immoral, unethical, and illegal behavior. What is being demanded of us right now is uniformity in ideological thought, word, and deed, gross inequity painted as a moral and societal good, and exclusion for the sake of purity and safety. This is, however, baldly antithetic to the life and teachings of Jesus. It is baldly antithetic to the Baptismal Covenant. I am, therefore, for the sake of the Gospel, disinclined to acquiesce to these requests. I am pleased that my church is, too; even while being both incredulous and sad that it is necessary to take such a stand at all.
Reunification Discernment Conversation
And now for something completely different...
The Central Deanery of the Diocese of Northern Indiana will convene this Sunday, May 18, at Saint Michael & All Angels Church on N Ironwood Rd, South Bend. The meeting will begin at 3 pm. Registration is not required; just come!
If you are not available on the 18th, an online conversation for the entire diocese (hosted by the Cathedral) will take place on Saturday, June 7, beginning at 10 am. Click here to register.
And from the Reunification Discernment Committee: The Committee has been hard at work preparing draft models in order to resource this ongoing, collective discernment. Models representing various dimensions of diocesan life will be shared in early May and will include drafts of a Constitution and Canons, Unified Budget, and Healthcare Model as well as reminders of the model shared at our Fall diocesan conventions for Ministry of the Episcopate. These models are tools to help us all begin to see and better understand how a reunified diocese could look and how it might operate.
Click here to go to the Episcopal Indiana Reunification Discernment Models webpage.
Vacation
I will be out of the office from Wednesday, May 21 through Tuesday, May 27. Tamisyn and I will be traveling to Minneapolis, Minnesota for the wedding of our son, Jesse Grantz, to Katelyn Langwith on Saturday, May 24. It should be quite the soiree, with friends and family gathering from far and wide.
Blessings,
Brian
Tomorrow!
Worship
Blessing . Holy Eucharist . Pot Luck Supper . Elevator Music
Join us at 6 pm in the Burkhart-Miller Atrium inside our new entrance to begin the evening. With Bishop Doug Sparks, we will bless our new addition before proceeding to the Nave to celebrate the Eve of the Ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven on the 40th day after his Resurrection. Following the Eucharist, we will return to the atrium to continue our celebrations.
The Cathedral will provide cake for the occasion. We invite you to bring your choice of main dish, side dish, or dessert to our potluck. You may sign up in church this Sunday or by using this link.
See you there!
Events / Opportunities
Sunday, June 1
Move items from TOD to Cathedral Hall following the 10:30 service
Monday, June 9
Mixing, 9 am
Wednesday, June 11 & Thursday, June 12
Baking, 6:30 pm
Wednesday, June 18
Cathedral Hall Setup 10 am
Thursday, June 19
Berry Washing, 6 am & Slicing 8 am
Friday, June 20: Festival Day
Setup, 8 am
Production, Serving, Delivery beginning at 10 am
Sign-up sheets are on the table at the back of the church or
email Joe Anand-Obleton at office@stjamessouthbend.org.
Christian Education & Faith Formation
Outreach & Evangelism
Cathedral Calendar
Saturday, May 17
10:00 am
Cathedral Garden Work Party
Sunday, May 18
The Fifth Sunday of Easter
8:00 am
Holy Eucharist: Rite One
9:15 am
Adult Forum
10:30 am
Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
11:45 am
Hospitality Hour
3:00 pm
Episcopal Indiana Reunification Conversation
Monday, May 19
Cathedral Office: Closed
6:00 pm
Education for Ministry
Tuesday, May 20
Cathedral Office Hours: 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
6:30 pm
Cathedral Chapter Meeting
Wednesday, May 21
Cathedral Office Hours: 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
Fr. Brian on vacation
7:00 pm
Cathedral Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, May 22
Cathedral Office Hours: 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
Fr. Brian on vacation
No Events Scheduled
Friday, May 23
Cathedral Office Hours: 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
Fr. Brian on vacation
12:05
Holy Eucharist
Canon Tina Velthuizen, presiding & preaching
1:00 pm
Community Lunch at Grille 362
Saturday, May 24
No Events Scheduled
Sunday, May 25
The Sixth Sunday of Easter
Memorial Day Weekend
Fr. Brian on vacation
Fr. Mark Hummell, presiding & preaching
8:00 am
Holy Eucharist: Rite One
DoK Intercessory Prayer following
10:30 am
Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
DoK Intercessory Prayer following
This service will not be live-streamed.
11:45 am
Hospitality Hour
Cathedral Prayer List
Collect for the Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 18
Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Anniversaries & Birthdays
May 22 David & Wendy Chapman
May 18 Janice Haywood
May 19 Julie Martindale
May 22 Hal Culbertson
May 22 Astrid Kallenberg
May 20 Joseph Buttigieg (78)
May 22 Rosemary Zigler (79)
May 23 Laura Pankow (71)
May 24 Jack Smith (90)
Cathedral Prayer List
Helene Daugherty-Randles, for healing
Trice Berkley, for healing
For David, who has thyroid cancer.
For Siberina Taylor, mother of Joe Anand-Obelton
For Billy Hans, brother-in-law of Patty Hans
For Rick Hillard and for Celeste Hillard
For Samuel Gibson, Chris Gibson’s father.
For Robert Dorsch, Jr, son of Jo Dorsch
For Millard “Sonny” Stone & his wife, Joellen.
For Joshua Henderson, brother of Chris Henderson.
For Dorothea Felix
For Laura Gekeler, friend of Deacon Clay
For Cory Creager, friend of Deacon Clay
For James Ellar, high school classmate of Mike Jaworski, who has a recurrence of cancer.
For Rebecca Garcia, sister of Doug Martindale, and the Martindale/Riffell families
For Willow Grace Wilson, daughter of Connor Wilson & Genesis Dilewski
For Deb Walter, friend of Sherry Berkley
For Corinne, Karen Slack’s daughter (upcoming surgery)
For Marci & Kevin, friends of Patty Hans
For Steven Mast
For Elaine Mick
For the Proffitt Family and for the Hillman Family
Ann and Bill Young
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
For Tim Lane, son-in-law of Karen Slack (recovering from surgery)
For Dan, son-in-law of Karen Slack (health concerns)
Mary M. Burman
Carolynn Raney
For Carl and Melinda Stopczynski; and for Alison Abbot -- cousins/extended family of Mike & Lisa Jaworski
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 Joseph Hilliard
For Tim Haywood, and Janice
Fred & Kate Mast
Paula Fowler
Canon Tina Velthuizen's grand-nephew, Jordan, who is struggling
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 about to be married: Jesse Grantz & Katelyn Langwith (May 24)
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
May 18 The Fifth Sunday of Easter
8:00 am
Lector Patty Hans
Server Volunteer Needed
10:30 am
Lectors Cherry Radin & Erica Vitale
Acolytes Jack Laney, Matthew Worns, Bear Kallenberg
Eucharistic Ministers Cynthia Katsarelis, Cherry Radin, Nan Noecker, Stephen Drendall
Ushers Kay & Reg Klopfenstein
Hospitality Host(s) Liz Burman
Linens Celeste Hilliard
May 20 Tuesday
Counters Peg Swadener & Mary Lehman
May 23 Friday
Folder Gay McCrea