eConnections - January 11, 2026
Click here to view the complete January 11, 2026 edition of eConnections with graphics.
eConnections
The Weekend of the First Sunday after the Epiphany
The Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ
(Year A, Epiphany 1)
January 11, 2026
The Dean's List
reConnections
The word religion means to bind back together. That may seem a bit ironic, given the divisive character broadly ascribed to religion in broad strokes, both fairly and unfairly. The aspiration of religion, nevertheless, is to reconnect humanity to divinity. Incarnational expressions of religion - such as we are - recognize that religion is not merely about individual efforts to "find" God, but about how our relationships with one another and all Creation are shaped in light of God. The mission of the Episcopal Church, stated on page 855 in the Book of Common Prayer, is to "restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ." In other words, we're in the reconnection business.
And that may seem a bit idealistic, considering the world we live in today which is fragmented in so many ways. Just consider this: when I was a kid living in the suburbs of Washington D.C., there were a whopping four choices for news and entertainment on our brand new color TV: ABC, NBC, CBS, and PBS (and a really fuzzy UHF station, but that doesn't count). There are most certainly problems inherent with limited choices, but it did provide a common cultural experience and vernacular. Now? Well... not so much. Now we choose our news and entertainment out of seemingly endless possibilities to suit our moods and tastes. I appreciate this in some ways (I have a penchant for British detective shows), but I also recognize that such vast competition for viewership drives content creators towards sensationalized spectacle (I'm pretty sure half the population of Cambridge, England dies under very suspicious circumstances).
The point being simply that, culturally speaking, we hold less in common than we once did. And it shows, both in our the fragmentation of our lives and in the myriad ways we search for real connection.
So, Cathedral community, back to us. Religio - our call to bind back together. to connect and reconnect - is the gift we have to offer to God, to one another, and to our neighbors. After an interestingly busy and - from my perspective - fragmented 2024 and 2025, I would love for us to dedicate ourselves in 2026 to the fundamental work of reconnecting. There are some programmatic elements to this that I will introduce below, but before that, and far more important than any interesting activities and classes that we might dream up, is naming the core belief that our commitment to one another in Christ matters. Connecting and reconnecting as a community of faith matters. That common worship and shared meals and held hands and heartfelt prayers and laughter and tears matter in shaping who we are as people and how we relate to the world around us. Program is just figuring out how to organize ourselves in order to foster those connections.
Here are some starting places. If I know nothing else at this point in my career, I know that I don't know everything and I am easily distracted, so if you have an idea or inspiration on how to foster connections withing our congregation, let me or anyone in leadership know.
Dining Out Group
Thursday, January 29
6:00 pm / Restaurant TBD
Celebrating DTSB Restaurant Weeks
RSVP here
Newcomer Welcome Lunch & Information Session
Sunday, February 8
12:30 pm / Cathedral Hall
RSVP here
The Spirituality and Navigation of
The Book of Common Prayer (Short Course)
Thursday, February 5 and Thursday, February 12
6 pm - 7 pm / Cathedral Hall
RSVP here
God Outside Group Hike
Saturday, February 14
10:00 am / Potato Creek State Park
Meet at the Nature Center
RSVP here
Blessings all,
Brian
Worship
Formation & Spirituality
Outreach & Evangelism
Cathedral Calendar
Saturday, January 10
No Events Scheduled
Sunday, January 11
The Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Year A: The First Sunday after the Epiphany
8:00 am
Renewal of Baptismal Vows &
Holy Eucharist: Rite One
9:00 am
Intercessory Prayer
9:15 am
Adult Forum
10:30 am
Renewal of Baptismal Vows &
Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
11:45 am
Intercessory Prayer
Hospitality Hour
Youth Group
12:30
Fellowship of St. John
Monday, January 12 Aelred of Rievaulx
Cathedral Office: Closed
6:30 pm
Education for Ministry
Tuesday, January 13 Hilary of Poitiers
Cathedral Office Hours: 9 am - 1:30 pm
5:30pm
Finance Committee Meeting
6:00 pm
Chapter & Finance Committee Meeting
Wednesday, January 14 Richard Benson & Charles Gore
Cathedral Office: 9 am - 1:30 pm
7:00 pm
Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, January 15
Cathedral Office Hours: 9 am - 1:30 pm
No Events Scheduled
Friday, January 16
Cathedral Office Hours: 9 am - 1:30 pm
12:05 pm
Holy Eucharist
1:00 pm
Community Lunch at Grill 362
Saturday, January 17 Antony of Egypt
No Events Scheduled
Sunday, January 18
Year A: The Second Sunday after the Epiphany
8:00 am
Holy Eucharist: Rite One
9:15 am
Through the Years Intergenerational Event
10:30 am
Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
12:00
Annual Parish Meeting
Cathedral Prayer List
Collect for the First Sunday after the Epiphany
Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Anniversaries & Birthdays
01/13 Aiden Earley
01/14 Wyatt Mick (97)
01/16 Chris Jeter
For Your Prayers
☩ For the Repose of the Soul
For those who have departed this life, and for their families mourning their loss:
Cecilia Mary Beattie Hassert (goddaughter of Liz & Tom Burman)
The Rev. Paul John Tracy
Jim Arns (friend of Sherry Berkley)
Segun Soyemi
Stacy Keller Bolen, (aunt of Mackenzie Keller Grantz); for Michael & Bridget Keller and their family
Clyde Fain (father of Ed Fain); for Ed & Sue Fain; and for the Fain family
☩ For Those in Need of Healing & Recovery
For those facing illness, surgery, or physical distress:
Tim Lane (son-in-law of Karen Slack, recovering from shoulder surgery)
Joe Anand-Obelton (recovering from surgery)
Joni Carlson (continuing treatment)
David (thyroid cancer)
James Ellar (high school classmate of Mike Jaworski, cancer recurrence)
Gideon and his family (healing)
Olivia (leukemia) and for her family
Robin & Laurie (healing from health issues)
☩ For Strength, Guidance, & Comfort
For those seeking spiritual support and peace:
Cynthia Katsarelis & Rebecca Maloy (peace and strength)
Derek (guidance)
Billy Hans (comfort in grief)
Joseph Hilliard (strength & guidance)
Joyce (strength & guidance)
Marshall Moore (strength & guidance)
☩ General Intercessions
For friends, family, and members of the community:
Neal Velthuizen (nephew of Mtr. Tina Velthuizen)
Cherryl Andries
The Ashby Family: Shaun, Shirley, and Roland
Richard Bitner
Mary Brooks
Alissa Broussara
Mary M. Burman
Al Caparell; Tony Lemna; Mike; Denise & Demetrius
Joni Carlson's brother
Cobie (Tina Velthuizen’s sister)
The Demler and Martindale families
Jo Dorsch
Anne Ford
Paula Fowler
Connor Gibbons
Julie Guiler (DeDe’s Stepdaughter)
Ron Gunn
Tim Haywood and Janice
Joshua Henderson (brother of Chris Henderson)
Rick Hillard
Mike Jaworski and Lisa
The Jeter Family: Jamie, Mimi, Joely, Mia, and the entire family
Bill Jones and his family
Charles Kegg
Joan Machatton
Dan & Gail Mandell
Joyce Marchant
Fred & Kate Mast
Sharron McGowan
Megan (Dr. Steve Wietstock's niece)
Michael (son of Diane Hoist) and his family
Elaine Mick
Tony Molnar
Richard Murphy Jr. and Jill Bird
Daniel & Amy Petry (parents of Amanda Helfrich)
The Proffitt and Hillman families
Carolynn Raney
Sheila & family
Karen Slack
Kevin Smith
Alan Thompson
Mthr. Tina Velthuizen
Deb Walter (friend of Sherry Berkley)
Kitty Ward
Willow Grace Wilson
Mary Beth Wright
Bill Young (Catherine Craker’s Father)
Donnie Zigler
☩ 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, January 11
The First Sunday after the Epiphany
8:00 am
Reader Michael Pippenger
Server Mary Young-Marcks
10:30 am
Readers Norris Whitfield & Jack Laney
Eucharistic Ministers Mary Beth Wright, Betsy VanderBurg
Ushers Deborah Drendall, Erica Vitale
Acolytes Freddy Kallenberg, Zeke Kallenberg, Aley Vitale-Richards
Hospitality Lisa Philippsen
Linens Deborah Drendall
Sacristan Volunteer Needed
Wednesday, January 14
Counters Betsy VanderBurg & Volunteer Needed
Friday, January 16
Folder Peg Swadener