eConnections - July 13, 2025

eConnections
The Weekend of The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
(Year C, Proper 10, Track 2)

July 13, 2025

The Dean's List

Call to Prayer: Texas
As of this writing, 121 people are confirmed dead, including 36 children, and more that 160 are still missing following flash floods in Texas. This hits close to home for me in several ways. First, I was an almost-13-year-old living in Johnstown, Pennsylvania in the summer of 1977 when a storm system stalled over the area on the evening of July 19, causing devastating flooding throughout the city. I learned that day that human beings are no match for the awesome and awful power of water. Second, I began directing summer camps at the tender age of 23 and recognize the weight of responsibility that such a position carries for those placed in ones charge. I totally get why a camp director is among the dead. And third, I am a parent who sent my children off to summer camp many times, fully expecting each year that they would return with stories of great adventures and friendships. This is every parent's nightmare, and nightmarish all around.
  Episcopal Relief & Development posted this week, “As our friends at the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas wrote, "Pray big prayers for the missing. Pray big prayers for their families and friends. Pray big prayers for first responders and rescue workers. Pray big prayers for St. Peter's Church and the Hill Country camping community. Pray big prayers not just one day or one Sunday, but for the next 30 days."
  As a veteran of Johnstown and as one who lived in post-Katrina Louisiana, I can safely say that 30 days is only the beginning. We will be praying for the Texas Hill Country for the foreseeable future. You can check out the press release and donate to ER&D here

Call to Prayer: Gun Violence
Meanwhile around America, the first ten days of July have seen a horrific string mass shootings (defined as four or more victims). The Gun Violence Archive records 31 separate incidents from July 1 through July 10 (including five in Chicago and one in Indianapolis) in which 26 people were killed and 147 were injured. There are many theories about the underlying causes of such violence, including a trifecta of poverty, racism, and easy access to guns in the US that is the basic platform of Bishops United Against Gun Violence in the Episcopal Church. Likewise there are many theories and opinions about what to do about gun violence ranging from no guns at all to guns for everyone which, like many things these days, mostly just leaves us shouting across a polemical divide driven by fear. 
   Thoughts and prayers are not enough. I recently read a wonderful take on a famous MLK Jr. quote: "The arc of the moral universe will bend toward justice," the author said, "but only if we pull it."* We absolutely need to pray, but prayer is offered in order to ground our action in God. Prayer is the possibility that in offering ourselves for the will and work of God, God will actually take us up on it. Prayers beyond "Woe are we, God, for this terrible thing befallen us!" must evolve into something more akin to "Make me a channel of your peace." The next line of the Prayer attributed to Saint Francis lays down a mighty challenge for our time, if we're listening: Where there is hatred, let us sow love. That's a mighty prayer in a time of violence.
   Just a reminder that the small, round candle on the altar at Saint James was first lit seven years ago after the Parkland High School shooting. The promise at the time was that we would light it on any subsequent Sunday following a week in which there was a mass shooting in the US. It has never not been lit.  

* Google says this quote belongs to Representative Shontel Brown of Ohio's 11st Congressional District. 

Cathedral Hall Progress
The walls in Cathedral Hall are primed, closet doors have been installed, and trim work has begun. Many thanks to Matthew & the Retirees for their continued great word, with a special shout out to Junior Warden Eric McManus for an impromptu assist on a door hanging job. He made it look easy.

Office Entrance Door Progress
We have power to the door openers in the new entrance. The last part of the project now is to install door opener plates inside the vestibule. That will - hopefully - be done this coming week, but we are at the mercy of the very busy schedule of our contractor. (Please pray for Jeremy...)

Staff Summer Times Out
Here's what's on the calendar:

Assistant to the Dean for Finance
Steven Mast
July 19 through 26

Assistant to the Dean for Administration
Joe Anand-Obleton
through July 15
July 25

Deacon Anne Wietstock
through July 17

Director of Music
Dr. Steven Wietstock
through July 17
July 20 through July 26

Dean Brian Grantz
July 13 after Church through July 16
August 15 through August 17
September 4 through September 11

Blessings,
Brian

Worship Opportunities

Fellowship & Fun

Outreach & Evangelism

Christian Education & Faith Formation

Cathedral Calendar

Saturday, July 12
No Events Scheduled


Sunday, July 13
The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Year C, Proper 10, 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
Hospitality Hour


Monday, July 14
Cathedral Office: Closed
11:00 am
St. Margaret's House Summer Camp


Tuesday, July 15  Priscilla & Aquila
Cathedral Office Hours: by appointment
Joe Anand-Obleton out of the office
Fr. Brian out of the office
11:00 am
St. Margaret's House Summer Camp


Wednesday, July 16
Cathedral Office Hours: 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
Fr. Brian out of the office
11:00 am
St. Margaret's House Summer Camp
5:30 pm
Daughters of the King Meeting


Thursday, July 17
Cathedral Office Hours: 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
11:00 am
St. Margaret's House Summer Camp


Friday, July 18
Cathedral Office Hours: 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
11:00 am
St. Margaret's House Summer Camp
12:05 pm
Holy Eucharist
1:00 pm
Community Lunch at Grill 362
2:00 pm
Kevin Ullery Funeral at St. Paul's, Mishawaka


Saturday, July 19
10:00 am
Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana
Commission on Ministry Meeting


Sunday, July 20
The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Year C, Proper 11, 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 10

O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Anniversaries
07/13  Amanda & Andy Helfrich

Birthdays
07/13  Joe Ross
07/14  Stephen Drendall
07/14  Freddy Kallenberg
07/15  Sam Milligan
07/17  Joe Hilliard

Remembering the Faithful Departed
07/16  Bill Bissell (99)
07/16  Dave Matthews (79)

For Your Prayers

• For the repose of the soul of  Darlene Bennett, long-time partner of Billy Hans.
• For the repose of the soul of Kevin Ullery and for his wife, Marci; friends of Patty Hans
• For the repose of the soul of Millard “Sonny” Stone and for his wife, Joellen; brother & sister-in-law of Myra Anthony
• Michelle Miller
• Billy Hans, for comfort in grief and for Patty Hans
• Janet Grantz, Fr. Brian’s mother, and for their entire family.
• Dorothea Felix
• Alice Miller
• Tina Velthuizen
• Donnie Zigler
• For Nancy & Tatiana, for strength and guidance
• For Jen, Robbie, and family for strength and guidance
• Amanda, for strength & guidance
• 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 Siberina Taylor, mother of Joe Anand-Obelton
• For Rick Hillard.
• For Samuel Gibson, Chris Gibson’s father.
• For Joshua Henderson, brother of Chris Henderson.
• 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 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, July 13: The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

8:00 am
Lector  Patty Hans
Server  Nan Noecker

10:30 am
Lectors  Bunmi Banjo & Paul Hochstetler
Acolytes  Bear Kallenberg, Jack Laney, Matthew Worns
Eucharistic Ministers  Bunmi Banjo & Cherry Radin
Ushers  Keith LaPierre, Nicole Pinter
Hospitality Host(s)  Tina Velthuizen
Linen Care  DeDe Guth

Tuesday, July 15
Counters  Mary Lehman, Peg Swadener

Friday, July 18
Folder  Gay McCrea