eConnections - August 10, 2025
eConnections
The Weekend of The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
(Year C, Proper 14, Track 2)
August 10, 2025
The Dean's List
Discretionary Tales
Assistance Day at Saint James - the first Wednesday of each month - is a day I both welcome and dread. On the positive side, we get to meet and talk to and pray with people we might not otherwise meet and talk to and pray with. Taking time to hear people's story is a ministry in and of itself. On top of that, we are able to offer tangible help with $50 and - for the third month now - one boxed breakfast at a time. It doesn't seem like much, but for those who live day-to-day it can mean a lot. What I dread is that the line is always longer than the discretionary fund checkbook is deep, and there will be those at the back of the line who are disappointed or frustrated, which comes with a fair number of attempts to plead and bargain. I usually limit our distribution to 25 checks - $1,250 - but thanks to a very generous gift to the discretionary fund recently we were able to write 33 checks this week, even though I had it in mind to write only 30. Sometimes pleading and bargaining works. A few people at the back of the line invariably take it upon themselves to alert us about the worthiness of some people ahead of them. I get it, but judging someone's worthiness to receive a $50 gift seems both a bit extra - as the saying goes - and - more to the point - antithetical to our mission in this ministry. In any case, the first twenty-five or thirty people in line have usually been outside our door since 3 am or 4 am; that alone is worth $50 in my book. That fact alone speaks volumes about how the economy and social safety net are actually working for the poor.
There is also much gratitude expressed to the Cathedral for this ministry. This usually prompts me to say, "I wish we could do more," which often prompts them to say some version of "Everything helps."
The story this month, though, is of a man everyone called "Pops." Pops is 60 years old but looks considerably older. I first noticed that there were several people around him who were helping him move - very tenderly - as the line advanced and he entered the Atrium. He had a still-clean cast on his right arm, and his conversation with members of the Fellowship of Saint John as he approached had to do with finding him some food that he could actually eat. Pops told us that his jaw and arm were broken and his ankle severely bruised when a group of men assaulted him a few days prior, taking his money, his ID, and everything else he had in his pockets. While there may have been others who witnessed the attack, no one called an ambulance or offered to help until he was able to drag himself into a nearby dollar store. Because he didn't have an ID, we had to walk three blocks to Notre Dame Federal Credit Union so I could get them to cash his check with my ID. The truly moving part, though, was the three other people who walked with us - others who had been in line - who tended to Pops all along the way, helping him navigate a revolving door, and getting him to the closest bus stop afterwards. Their compassion for Pops was profound and pure and an amazing witness to the persistence of kindness in a world that is often pretty unkind.
Thank you - again - for making this ministry possible through the Cathedral of Saint James. Thank you - again - to Norris Whitfield, Joe Anand-Obleton, and the Fellowship of Saint John for making, boxing, and distributing breakfast and for directing traffic on Assistance Day. We'll do it again on Wednesday, September 3.
Thank You Again
My deepest gratitude to the Cathedral community for your many prayers and condolences following the death of my mother. I appreciate it more than I can express. I have been back in the Bend since late Sunday evening and back in the office since Tuesday. For the most part I am okay, with grief and exhaustion following a fairly intense two-month period of her decline casting a bit of a pall, which is to be expected. I haven't had to write a sermon yet, so we'll see how that goes :)
I now refer to this as Three Weddings and a Funeral summer. My niece and her handsome beau are getting married in Fort Wayne this coming weekend, so I will be away Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I'll be back for a bit before heading east again, this time to New York City from September 3 - 10 for our son Nathan's Central Park nuptials with long-time fiancee Mackenzie. After that, I'm here until its time for our annual trek to the Outer Banks for Thanksgiving.
There are 139 days 'til Christmas. You're welcome.
Saint Margaret's House Rebrand
SMH has a cool new logo and website.
Check out their Silk Creations booth at Art Beat this weekend!
Bless you all.
Brian
Formation & Spirituality
Fellowship & Fun
Outreach & Evangelism
Cathedral Calendar
Saturday, August 9 Edith Stein
No Events Scheduled
Check out St. Margaret's House's Silk Creations booth at Art Beat!
Sunday, August 10
The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Year C, Proper 14, 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
12:30 pm
Fellowship of Saint John Meeting
Monday, August 11 Clare of Assisi
Cathedral Office: Closed
11:00 am
St. Margaret's House Summer Camp
Tuesday, August 12 Florence Nightingale
Cathedral Office Hours: 9 am - 1:30 pm
11:00 am
St. Margaret's House Summer Camp
5:30 pm
Finance Committee Meeting
Wednesday, August 13 Jeremy Taylor
Cathedral Office Hours: 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
11:00 am
St. Margaret's House Summer Camp
Thursday, August 14 Jonathan Myrick Daniels
Cathedral Office Hours: 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
11:00 am
St. Margaret's House Summer Camp
Friday, August 15
Saint Mary the Virgin
Cathedral Office Hours: 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
Dean Brian Grantz away for a family wedding
11:00 am
St. Margaret's House Summer Camp
12:05 pm
Holy Eucharist
1:00 pm
Community Lunch at Grill 362
Saturday, August 16
Dean Brian Grantz away for a family wedding
No Events Scheduled
Sunday, August 17
The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Year C, Proper 15, Track 2
Dean Brian Grantz away for a family wedding
Fr. Mark Hummell presiding & preaching
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 14
Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Anniversaries & Birthdays (Two Weeks Worth)
Aug 4 Daniel & Eliana Armounfelder (7)
Aug 5 Steph & Will Campbell (8)
Aug 6 Kirk & Lisa Philippsen (42)
Aug 11 Doug & Julia Martindale (41)
Aug 3 Megan Drendall
Aug 4 Jessica McCrea
Aug 5 Richard Bitner
Aug 7 Beau McCrea
Aug 10 Peg Swadener
Aug 13 Padraig Chapman
Aug 14 Lester Hans
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 repose of the soul of Darlene Bennett, long-time partner of Billy Hans.
• Scott Peters
• Trish O’Connor
• Kathleen O’Connor
• Michael Anand-Obleton
• 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.
• David, who has thyroid cancer.
• Siberina Taylor, mother of Joe Anand-Obelton
• For Rick Hillard.
• Joshua Henderson, brother of Chris Henderson.
• James Ellar, high school classmate of Mike Jaworski, who has a recurrence of cancer.
• Willow Grace Wilson, daughter of Connor Wilson & Genesis Dylewski
• Deb Walter, friend of Sherry Berkley
• Steven Mast
• Elaine Mick
• 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
• Mary Beth Wright
• Richard Murphy Jr. and Jill Bird
• Mary M. Burman
• Carolynn Raney
• Joan Machatton
• Jim Arns
• Cindy Ahlgrim
• Joni Carlson, who continues treatment of an ongoing issue
• Mike Jaworski and for Lisa.
• Michael, son of Diane Hoist, and his family.
• 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 10: The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
8:00 am
Reader Kate Lee
Server Mary Young-Marcks
10:30 am
Readers Dominic Vitale-Richards; Celeste Hilliard
Eucharistic Ministers Cherry Radin; Bunmi Banjo
Ushers Deborah Drendall; Keith LaPierre
Acolytes Ainsley Gray; Jack Laney; Aley Vitale-Richards
Hospitality Tina Velthuizen
Linens DeDe Guth
Sacristan Volunteer Needed
Wednesday, August 13
Counters Sue Lowe & Betsy VanderBurg
Friday, August 15
Folder Peg Swadener