Saint James' Anglican Cathedral

Christmas Schedule

2011-12-23T13:33:00.000-08:00

December 24th: Saturday evening at 6:00PM is our family service for Christmas Eve with Holy Eucharist in the Cathedral. This worship celebration is offered with children in mind.

December 24th: Saturday night at 11:00PM is “Midnight Mass” (Eve of the Holy Nativity) with Bishop Menees. This is a festal Eucharist in the Cathedral with incense.

December 25th: Sunday morning at 10:30AM is The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the Cathedral.

January 1st: Sunday morning at 8:00am and 10:30AM is The Most Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ (or, The Circumcision of Christ) in the Cathedral.

January 6th: Friday evening at 6:00pm is the Epiphany (or Manifestation) of Our Lord Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, in the Chapel of the Holy Innocents.

Anglican Fever

2011-12-23T13:21:00.000-08:00

Here is an interesting article and video about college students' growing interest in Anglicanism.

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2011/December/Anglican-Fever-Youth-Flock-to-New-Denomination-/

Consecration of a Bishop

2011-10-07T15:34:00.000-07:00

Follow this link to read Mary Hierholzer's reflections on the Consecration of Bishop Eric Menees.

Here is an excerpt:

Robes of bright red, cream and white illuminate the church as three bishops lay their hands on a man, selected by his diocese, to consecrate him as a new bishop in the Anglican Church. As they speak ancient words from the Book of Common Prayer, they are not in medieval England or a movie -- they are in the sanctuary of Peoples Church, Sept. 24.

Living the Jesus Way: Aug. 7 through Nov 20, 2011

2011-07-23T15:22:00.000-07:00

Living the Jesus Way – Becoming Christ’s Disciple

WHAT: A Catechism for the Christian Faith
WHEN: August 7th through November 20th, 2011 every Sunday at 9:30am
WHERE: in the diocesan/cathedral office conference room, across the patio (south) from the Cathedral

This fifteen-week course is designed for those who are . . .

curious about the Christian Faith
preparing for Baptism
preparing for Confirmation
baptized/confirmed but want to grow deeper in faith

For more information, or to sign-up, please call the Cathedral Office at (559) 222-3721

400th Anniversary Celebration of the King James Bible - August 12th

2011-07-22T16:09:00.000-07:00

Thou art invited to a celebration of the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible on Friday, August 12th at 7:00pm at Saint James' Anglican Cathedral in Fresno California.

Evening Prayer will be offered with scripture readings from the King James Bible, prayers from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, and hymns of the period.

Come and celebrate this great heritage from the Church of England.

Saint James' Anglican Cathedral
4147 E. Dakota Avenue
Fresno, CA 93726
(559) 222-3721

Search and Rescue volunteer Fr Dale

2011-05-20T14:53:00.000-07:00

Nominees for Bishop Announced

2011-03-12T16:17:00.000-08:00

The four nominees for the Fifth Bishop of San Joaquin have been announced on the Diocese of San Joaquin website.

Fr Carlos interviewed on Ch 30 News

2011-03-10T20:50:00.000-08:00

Spring 2011 Events

2011-03-07T09:33:00.000-08:00

Up Coming Events

March 9 Ash Wednesday services
7:00 a.m. Chapel
12:00 noon Chapel
5:30 p.m Cathedral following the service there will be a soup supper in Zoe Eden Hall.

Wednesdays in Lent – During Lent on Wednesday starting March 16th there will be Stations of the Cross at 4:30 followed by Evening Prayer at 5:00. Confession and healing prayers will be available following evening prayer around 5:30.

March 13, Daylight savings time starts please change your clocks 1 hour ahead. (yes, we loose an hour of sleep)

March 25 and 26 Fr. Jim Wilson will be at the Cathedral. He will lecture on the Prophetic Acts. This event trains for Bible Reading Marathons; Targeted Prayer projects; Prayer Vanguard; and Prayer Tents in our city.

April 1. 2011 - Invitation from the Bishop Search Committee.

The Bishop Search Committee of the Diocese of San Joaquin is pleased to invite all members of the diocese to meet the candidates for election as the 5th Bishop of San Joaquin on Friday

April 1, 2011. Plan to attend the 6:30 pm service followed by a question and answer session with the candidates for bishop. Following the event there will be desserts served in Zoe Eden Hall.

April 30th Springfest
Plan to attend this fun event!! If interested in helping or donating any kind of craft or homemade goodies please contact Barbara Brotsis. (Please call the Cathedral Office for her number)

May 14th Special Convention at Zoe Eden Hall to elect the Bishop.

May 21st 2:00 p.m. Women’s Tea to benefit the Women’s Retreat. Please plan to attend. If interested in hosting a table please call the office,222-3721.

The King James Bible: 1611-2011

2011-02-18T10:17:00.000-08:00

The King James' Bible is one of the greatest heritages of Anglicanism, along with the Book of Common Prayer. This year is the 400th anniversary of the Bible's publication. The following is the original translators' preface:

TO THE MOST

HIGH AND MIGHTIE

PRINCE, JAMES BY THE GRACE OF GOD

KING OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND IRELAND,

DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, &c.

THE TRANSLATORS OF THE BIBLE

wish Grace, Mercy and Peace, through JESUS CHRIST, our Lord.

G REAT and manifold were the blessings, most dread Sovereign, which Almighty God, the Father of all mercies, bestowed upon us the people of England, when first he sent Your Majesty's Royal Person to rule and reign over us. For whereas it was the expectation of many, who wished not well unto our Sion, that upon the setting of that bright Occidental Star, Queen ELIZABETH of most happy memory, some thick and palpable clouds of darkness would so have overshadowed this Land, that men should have been in doubt which way they were to walk; and that it should hardly be known, who was to direct the unsettled State; the appearance of your Majesty, as the Sun in his strength, instantly dispelled those supposed and surmised mists, and gave unto all that were well affected exceeding cause of comfort; especially when we beheld the Government established in Your Highness, and Your hopeful Seed, by an undoubted Title, and this also accompanied with peace and tranquillity at home and abroad.

But among all our joys, there was no one that more filled our hearts, than the blessed continuance of the preaching of God's sacred Word among us; which is that inestimable treasure, which excelleth all the riches of the earth; because the fruit thereof extendeth itself, not only to the time spent in this transitory world, but directeth and disposeth men unto that eternal happiness which is above in heaven.

Then not to suffer this to fall to the ground, but rather to take it up, and to continue it in that state, wherein the famous Predecessor of Your Highness did leave it: nay, to go forward with the confidence and resolution of a Man in maintaining the truth of Christ, and propagating it far and near, is that which hath so bound and firmly knit the hearts of all Your Majesty's loyal and religious people unto You, that Your very name is precious among them: their eye doth behold You with comfort, and they bless You in their hearts, as that sanctified Person who, under God, is the immediate Author of their true happiness. And this their contentment doth not diminish or decay, but every day increaseth and taketh strength, when they observe, that the zeal of Your Majesty toward the house of God doth not slack or go backward, but is more and more kindled, manifesting itself abroad in the farthest parts of Christendom, by writing in defence of the Truth, (which hath given such a blow unto that man of sin, as will not be healed,) and every day at home, by religious and learned discourse, by frequenting the house of God, by hearing the Word preached, by cherishing the Teachers thereof, by caring for the Church, as a most tender and loving nursing Father.

There are infinite arguments of this right Christian and religious affection in Your Majesty; but none is more forcible to declare it to others than the vehement and perpetuated desire of accomplishing and publishing of this work, which now with all humility we present unto Your Majesty. For when Your Highness had once out of deep judgment apprehended how convenient it was, that out of the Original Sacred Tongues, together with comparing of the labours, both in our own, and other foreign Languages, of many worthy men who went before us, there should be one more exact Translation of the holy Scriptures into the English Tongue; Your Majesty did never desist to urge and to excite those to whom it was commended, that the work might be hastened, and that the business might be expedited in so decent a manner, as a matter of such importance might justly require.

And now at last, by the Mercy of God, and the continuance of our Labours, it being brought unto such a conclusion, as that we have great hopes that the Church of England shall reap good fruit thereby; we hold it our duty to offer it to Your Majesty, not only as to our King and Sovereign, but as to the principal Mover and Author of the work: humbly craving of Your most Sacred Majesty, that since things of this quality have ever been subject to the censures of ill meaning and discontented persons, it may receive approbation and Patronage from so learned and judicious a Prince as Your Highness is, whose allowance and acceptance of our labours shall more honour and encourage us, than all the calumniations and hard interpretations of other men shall dismay us. So that if, on the one side, we shall be traduced by Popish Persons at home or abroad, who therefore will malign us, because we are poor Instruments to make God's holy Truth to be yet more and more known unto the people, whom they desire still to keep in ignorance and darkness; or if, on the other side, we shall be maligned by self-conceited Brethren, who run their own ways, and give liking unto nothing, but what is framed by themselves, and hammered on their Anvil; we may rest secure, supported within by truth and innocency of a good conscience, having walked the ways of simplicity and integrity, as before the Lord; and sustained without by the powerful protection of Your Majesty's grace and favour, which will ever give countenance to honest and Christian endeavours against bitter censures and uncharitable imputations.

The Lord of Heaven and earth bless Your Majesty with many and happy days, that, as his Heavenly hand hath enriched your Highness with many singular and extraordinary Graces, so You may be the wonder of the world in this latter age for happiness and true felicity, to the honour of that Great GOD, and the good of his Church, through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour.

If you are interested in reading the full commentary and philosophy of translation by the 1611 translators, you can find it here.

Ancient Human Remains Found in Israel

2010-12-28T08:53:00.000-08:00

AP News has reported that Israel may contain remains of homo sapiens that are twice as old as any previous discovery.

Read the full story here.

Sunday Readings: The Lectionary

2010-12-23T13:05:00.000-08:00

What year was your Book of Common Prayer (BCP) printed?

If it was printed prior to 2007, you have the BCP Lectionary in the back. If it was printed in 2007 or later, you have the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) printed in the back. The Episcopal Church, which publishes the 1979 BCP, voted to change from the BCP Lectionary to the RCL Lectionary at their 2006 General Convention.

“So what?” You may ask.

The Lectionary table beginning on page 889 of the BCP, with Year A, provides the list of readings to be used on the appointed Sunday or feast day. The BCP Lectionary and the RCL Lectionary are not the same. This really only matters if you are preparing to read, or wishing to read the Sunday readings before you see them printed in the Sunday morning bulletins.

The Diocese of San Joaquin and Saint James’ Cathedral are using the BCP Lectionary, and we are currently in Year A, as of the First Sunday of Advent (November 28, 2010).

In order to alleviate the confusion between the two lectionaries, we have listed all of the BCP Lectionary readings for Year A on our website, under “Resources.” The “Resources” button is on the second menu header of the home page. Or click here to go straight to it.

Christmas Schedule

2010-12-04T12:12:00.000-08:00

December 24th: Friday evening at 5:30PM our Bell Choir will offer Christmas music prior to the 6:00PM service in the Cathedral.

December 24th: Friday evening at 6:00PM is our family service for Christmas Eve with Holy Eucharist. This worship celebration is offered with children in mind.

December 24th: Friday night at 11:00PM is Midnight Mass (Eve of the Holy Nativity) with Bishop Schofield. This is a festal Eucharist with incense.

December 25th: Saturday morning at 10:00AM is The Nativity of Our Lord. This is a said Eucharist from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer in the Chapel of the Holy Innocents.

January 1st: Saturday morning at 10:00AM is The Circumcision of Christ (or, The Most Holy Name). This is a said Eucharist from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer in the Chapel of the Holy Innocents.

January 6th: Thursday morning at 7:45AM is Morning Prayer, followed by the Feast of the Epiphany.

Thomason Ordination on October 18th

2010-10-12T09:53:00.000-07:00

God willing, Deacon Derek Thomason will be ordained to the priesthood on Monday, October 18th at 7:00PM - the Feast Day of Saint Luke the Evangelist at Saint James' Anglican Cathedral. Your presence and prayers are desired. Clergy - Red stoles.

Life of a Seminarian Family Part II

2010-09-27T17:50:00.000-07:00

Almost a month has passed since we first arrived in Toronto, and we are becoming very familiar with our little neck of the woods—our neck of the “woods” just happens to be the hub of the fifth biggest city in North America. Fortunately for us, Toronto is also ranked as the safest big city in North America. We have taken full advantage of that, carting little Ella all over the streets, parks, markets, underground malls, galleries, and subway system in her little baby sling. She loves all of the new sights, but most of all I think she loves all of the attention she gets from the passers-by. No one can resist her two-toothed grin.

One of the more exciting outings on which we have gone was our trip to the Art Gallery of Ontario. Some of the highlights for us were the Italian Renaissance wing, the Impressionist room, and sitting on “Ripetere il bosco” because we thought it was a bench. Besides sitting on his central piece, we actually really enjoyed the rest of Guiseppe Penone’s installation. He carves into tree trunks to reveal the tree within. We saw so many fascinating things at the art gallery. Another reason that particular day was a real blessing is that the tickets were a gift from some friends we have made at the seminary.

Ella and I had the chance to go to the Bata Shoe Museum. The Bata Shoe Museum, which has exhibits ranging from the international history of shoes, shoes from literature, celebrity shoes, and shoes in art, is considered the world’s leading shoe museum. Some of the exhibits were really fascinating. For some reason, Daniel didn’t want to spend all day staring at shoes, so Ella and I went with one of the other seminarian’s wives. She is a Canadian, so she showed me some of the ins and outs of the university area , how to get free tickets to the local museums through the public library, and where to find some good coffee.

We have had several chances to meet people. Everyone has been very nice and helpful. Daniel has gone to a few game nights with some of the other seminarians and really enjoyed himself. There are lots of children running around, which delights Ella to no end. On Wednesdays I will be babysitting one of the seminarian’s two-year old daughter. Last Wednesday was our first day to pick her up at preschool and bring her back to our apartment. Ella was glued to the little girl until the two-year old climbed up on the bed where Ella couldn’t get to her.

Every morning Ella gets to see some of the other children on campus during morning chapel. Morning chapel begins at 8:30. All MDiv students are required to attend and many of their wives and families tag along. The service comes from The Book of Alternative Services. Out of all of the different services that we have been to so far, only one has been from The Book of Common Prayer. The Book of Alternative Services has inclusive language and is supposedly more contemporary. We have been told that The Book of Common Prayer is viewed as a little too outdated by many Canadians. We still like our BCP just fine, but it has been interesting to learn about The Book of Alternative Services.

Our first month in Toronto has been a lot of fun. We have met a lot of new people, seen a lot of new sights, and look forward to more new things ahead. We miss Fresno and our church family and cannot wait to come home and see everybody for the holidays. Thank you for all of your prayers and support. You are loved and appreciated. We look forward to seeing you in a few months!

Life of a Seminarian Family

2010-09-03T16:46:00.000-07:00

Having arrived at our apartment late yesterday morning, we are just finishing up our first full day in Toronto. So far our adventure has entailed the trials of international travels with an eight-month old, a fascinating exploration of the university area of downtown Toronto, chipping away at the daunting task of unpacking three peoples' and eight months' worth of luggage, familiarizing ourselves with Wycliffe College's living spaces, being pleasantly surprised at finding our apartment already semi-furnished with some very workable pieces, a couple of not so pleasantly surprising nervous breakdowns, and a lot of excitement for what is to come.

Toronto is going to be a really fun place to spend a few years. It seems like every other person is speaking a language other than English. Daniel was very happy to learn that there are over 50,000 Koreans living in the city. He fits right in on the streets; in fact he has already been stopped and asked for directions to Chinatown--luckily he had studied his map earlier that day and was able to help!

We have done a lot of walking to the store and back in order to stock our kitchen. The grocery store is about 1.3 km away. We have been there and back at least three times since we have gotten here. Ella has so much fun watching all of the people walking around. People seem to do a lot of walking; they are very noticeably fit. The grocery store is nice and not as expensive as we had expected. We have decided that it is a cross between Fresh and Easy and Whole Foods.

The only thing that gets in our way on our little treks is the humidity. We did not pack for such heat! Even Ella is sweating by the time we get back home. Luckily, our apartment has a lot of windows that open and allow enough cool air to breeze through and keep our area very comfortable. We are still trying to figure out how to work our dehumidifier, which also helps keep the room cool. The dehumidifier does make a pretty loud whirring sound which requires us to speak quite loudly to hear each other. We hope the other residents don't think we have marital problems!

Our apartment is in a secluded little nook, so we have not met any of the other residents yet. We are excited for our lunch date tomorrow afternoon with a seminary couple from Fr. Chuck and Bernice's church in Burbank. The college will also be hosting both a barbecue and a potluck next week. We look forward to meeting some people. We know that there is at least one other family with a baby, because its sweet little cries are carried right into the bedroom through the pipes.

Even with all of the excitement of getting situated, we already miss our Saint James family very much. We often reflect on how much love we have received from the college group's hard work at their fundraiser on our behalf, the congregation's very generous donations, and the steady flow of prayer and encouragement from which we have benefited. You make us feel so loved and we hope that you know how much our family loves you and will miss you in the months ahead. Please keep us updated with the developments in your lives as we attempt to regularly inform you of what is going on in ours. We will see you next summer!

Managing God's Assets

2010-08-20T16:19:00.000-07:00

Managing God’s Assets
Fr. Dale Matson
08-20-10

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (Romans 10:14-15)

As someone selected by our Bishop to be involved with the budget process for the Diocese, it has been a difficult tenure. In order to present a balanced budget to Diocesan Council in a period of reduced income, we have had to make difficult decisions that have affected the lives of those who serve the church. Thankfully, in His mercy, God has provided new and rewarding paths for those people who have departed. I believe St. James will continue to be blessed by God through Daniel’s pursuit of Holy Orders at Wycliffe College. Our continued Support of Daniel is similar to supporting a missionary. God blesses us as a congregation. It is stewardship for the future of God’s church and St. James.
If God calls upon us to make additional cuts and I pray that He will not, I have been thinking about what assets are primary to the continuation of St. James as a Community of Christians. While our property and buildings provide a place and contribute to a continuing identity for St. James, they also require maintenance. The question then becomes, “Do we continue to sacrifice positions for the sake of holding onto property”?
What is a more important asset to a faith community? I believe it is the clergy that serve the congregation. We are a congregation that holds fast to the doctrine of apostolic succession and the ordinals. We believe that only some are called to Holy Orders. Clergy are not only an important asset to our church, they are a necessary asset. Over the years, I watched three congregations flounder. In one case the clergy-person was impaired and this led to divisions and a significant decline in membership. In the second case, the congregation was slow to replace a priest in ill health who eventually retired and died soon thereafter. In the last example the clergy person was impaired and heretical. That congregation remains adrift and the membership contentious.
St. James is blessed to have two Godly Priests Fathers Carlos and Van, who have made personal sacrifices to be and remain at St. James. As both a parishioner and Priest who serves both the Diocese and St. James, I would ask you to consider our Priests as assets that we should hold onto for the sake of our spiritual health. Unlike the buildings, they are journeymen priests in good spiritual and physical health who continue to season in God’s Grace. They are building our faith, equipping us for service and providing incarnational models of the normal Christian life. It is my hope and prayer that you would see and understand this blessing God has provided for us. Amen.

Anglican Church in North America News - July 14, 2010

2010-07-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

CALL TO PRAYER: UGANDA

On Sunday, terrorists attacked people in Kampala, Uganda, watching the World Cup final match. More than 70 people died in the blasts and many others were injured.

According to the Rev. Cn. Dr. Alison Barfoot, who serves as the Assistant to Archbishop Henry Orombi for International Relations, the bombings have had an affect on Uganda similar to that the September 11 terrorist attacks had on the United States.

The full story is here.

AN ARMY OF ANGLICAN CHAPLAINS

When the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA) began to endorse chaplains in July of 2007, it had one member of the clergy doing this specialized work.

Today, there are more than 100 Anglican Church in North America chaplains, officially endorsed either through the CANA for the Anglican Church in North America, or through the Reformed Episcopal Church. In recognition of the rapid growth of this ministry, the Anglican Church in North America's annual council appointed the Rt. Rev. Derek Jones as the suffragan bishop for chaplaincy during its June meeting. The Convocation's chaplaincy office, under the leadership of Bishop Jones, is formulating a plan with the Reformed Episcopal Church's Bishop Royal Grote for a church-wide endorsing office for chaplaincies.

The full story is here.

Dean's Dispatch for July

2010-07-15T13:45:00.000-07:00

Happy July, beloved!

We had an absolutely WONDERFUL July 4th picnic! See the details in an accompanying article by Susan Sanders, with photographs by Barbara Brotsis. Next year we just have to start a bit later… about 6:30 pm or so. That way it will be getting dark just about time for fireworks. “Sam the piano man” and his tambourine sidekick, Gloria, blessed us with patriotic music and we felt like dancing!

H2O, our premier annual youth event, is about to kick off for the 11th year! The Cathedral will have at least 9 young people attending with at least 9 volunteers in the leadership of the event. Special thanks to Fr. Bill and Sue Gandenberger who have been outstanding leaders at this camp and responsible for much of the amazing success of this event ever since the Bishop and Fr. Lawrence and the Gandenbergers got together to plan this camp! They have been the “mom and pop” to the camp and counselors all along. We are so grateful for your wise and gifted ministries! Once again, Fr. Bill and Sue will be the foundation and practical leaders at H20. Furthermore, Daniel and Lana Marker will share the leadership in what may be their last H20 as they prepare to head off to Canada (Toronto) to attend Wycliffe College in seminary for the next three years! A great way to thank them for their service is to contribute to the St. James’ seminary scholarship fund! We want them to know that they are loved and well supported by the Cathedral as they begin this new walk of faith in their lives! When I think of all the amazing fruit of H20 in my family, in the Cathedral and in the lives of those mentioned above, I am blessed deeply. May the Lord bless new leadership and the H20 “movement” in the near and distant future as He continues to change young lives at the deepest level! Thank you, Lord! And thank you all of you faithful workers and volunteers!

I do hope that each of you is finding time to be with the Lord in these “dog days” of Summer! Particularly if your life tends to be heavily scheduled, I bless you to find a vacation plan that allows (or even “forces”) you just “to be” for a while. Just to breathe, to pray, to meditate, to listen to the movements of your own heart, to think deeply and to draw near to the Lord. Sort of like King David:

1 For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.

2 He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. (Psalm 62)

AND:

1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.

3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.

4 So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.

5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,

6 when I remember you upon my bed,and meditate on you in the watches of the night; (Psalm 63)

Finally, as we gear back up for September, be praying for the planting of our new small groups and their leaders. We are finalizing our list of prospective leaders and then will offer them training. In some cases, we will then send invitations to those who live nearby so that as many as possible of our groups are neighborhood based for outreach and for mutual love and support. Other groups will form at our launching event in late September (24-25th). So be sure and mark your calendar for that event. I truly believe that if we make this ministry the focus of our discipleship and life together, we will see the Cathedral renewed and growing and having an even greater impact on our neighborhoods and the part of the city where we meet to worship and do many of our ministries and much of our outreach. We are simply seeking to walk in obedience and do our ministries the very way Jesus taught us!

Have a blessed and refreshing Summer full of the joy, presence, prosperity and grace of the Lord Jesus in your life and family!

Much love in Jesus,

Fr. Carlos

Have a Blessed Fathers Day

2010-06-18T17:20:00.000-07:00

The Story Behind "Lead Me" - Sanctus Real from BrightBulb Entertainment on Vimeo.

Why Do We Persist?

2010-05-09T11:01:00.000-07:00

Why do we persist?
Fr. Dale Matson 05-09-10

"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (Dan. 3:17-18)
The Episcopal Church has brought legal action against our Diocese claiming that it is the rightful property owner. It maintains that when we voted to leave the Episcopal Church, because they had departed from the faith once delivered to the Saints, we could not leave with the property. There has been a considerable financial burden on us in an effort to defend ourselves. An important question to ask at this point is, “Why are we persisting at such a high cost?” Is there such an attachment to the property that we are unwilling to allow TEC to take if from us? Is this a justice issue for us? Why is God allowing this litigation to drag out with no clear decision in sight? I believe the resolution to most unsettled issues in our life await our eventual calling out to God, “Thy will be done”. These unresolved issues force us to reexamine our motives and understand our priorities. So, why are we persisting in the face of uncertainty at such a high financial expense? One fruit of this ongoing uncertainty is that having left Egypt, we are now in the desert living by faith. We no longer have the certain security of slavery in a place we no longer inhabit. We must live day by day and that is a life of faith. There is no desire to return yet we must continue to ask regarding the fight, “Why do we persist”? We have come out from among them (2 Cor. 6:17). Why don’t we walk away and demonstrate that it is not the property we are concerned about? The answer is that we are in fact not concerned about the property. We are concerned about the mission God has given us in the place where He has located us. Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him and each time Jesus replied to the Peter’s “Yes” with, “Then feed my sheep”. We are committed to the area of our city where God has located us. Years ago we built an activities center on our campus for the neighborhood youth. We decided to do this instead of building a new Cathedral. We have an ongoing food pantry and meals ministry for homeless folks and provide prayer, evangelism and worship opportunities. Our priests are available for walk in and phone counseling and have provided financial assistance for utility, rent and medical bills through our Deacon’s and Priest’s discretionary funds. It is a fertile field ripe for harvest. This is how we love our Lord Jesus Christ. Our mission is what we are fighting for and if we must relocate it will be that God has called to serve and love Him elsewhere. If we leave, who will love Jesus there? The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (Matt. 25:40). Amen.

General Synod Affirms Anglican Church in North America

2010-02-10T13:56:00.000-08:00

Today, the General Synod, the national assembly of the Church of England, meeting in London February 8-12, affirmed the Anglican Church in North America’s desire “to remain within the Anglican family.”

February 10, 2010

The Most Rev. Robert Duncan, archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America, thanked Mrs. Lorna Ashworth of Chichester for bringing the church to the attention of the General Synod. “We are very grateful to Mrs. Ashworth and the scores of other friends in the Synod of the Church of England for all they did to give us this opportunity to tell our story to the mother church of the Anglican Communion. It is very encouraging that the synod recognizes and affirms our desire to remain within the Anglican family.” said Archbishop Duncan.

A private member’s motion, put forward by Mrs. Ashworth, and subsequently amended by the Synod, states that “this synod…recognize and affirm the desire of those who have formed the Anglican Church in North America to remain within the Anglican family.” The motion passed by a resounding 309 – 69 margin (with seven abstentions).

The motion was amended by the Right Reverend Michael Hill, the Bishop of Bristol. His purpose, in his own words, was “(1) to encourage those who are part of the Anglican Church in North America; (2) to commend the process of recognition afforded by the Instruments of the Anglican Communion; and (3) to ask the Archbishop of Canterbury to report progress back to Synod in a year’s time.”

The discussion at Synod presented an important opportunity for members of the Anglican Church in North America, joined by many friends in the United Kingdom, to share the vision and mission of the church with fellow Anglicans. “We are deeply thankful that we were given the opportunity to tell the Synod about our church, and our vision for reaching North America with the transforming love of Jesus Christ. This chance to speak directly to our Anglican family was very rewarding. We look forward to working with the friends we made and reaching out to others in the years ahead,” said Bishop Donald Harvey, who, with Mrs. Cynthia Brust, Dr. Michael Howell, and the Rev. Dr. Tory Baucum, represented the Anglican Church in North America in preparation for the Synod vote.

The Anglican Church in North America, founded in June of 2009 with 703 congregations, today unites 800 Anglican congregations across North America. The church’s mission is to reach North America with the Transforming Love of Jesus Christ.

This article comes from the ACNA website.

Birettas, pom-poms & rose vestments

2010-01-16T13:18:00.000-08:00

Last year during Lenten services, I received a number of looks and comments about wearing a biretta (complete with pom-pom) with my cassock, while observing the Stations of the Cross. Prior to that, I have been teased about wearing a rose chasuble at the two appropriate Sundays during Advent and Lent. All of this, I have discovered has become a character-building exercise and has affirmed my confidence in my masculinity in spite of it all. Knowing that Lent will soon be upon us and I will be dusting off my biretta once again, I think it would be good for all of you to read the following article by Fr John Zuhlsdorf on birettas and pom-poms. (An instruction on rose vestments will have to wait for another time.) - Fr Van

February 13, 2009

POLL: pompoms

CATEGORY: POLLS, SESSIUNCULA — Fr. John Zuhlsdorf @ 12:48 pm

There has been discussion of the biretta lately, around this blog…. real birettas and photoshopped.

Also, the other day when I was tidying up an older foldable biretta I can put in a travel bag, I decided to remove the pompom. It had started to look a little desperate and the Roman style is nothing to cross your eyes at.

That choice and all this discussion of the superbly useful clerical cover raises a burning issue for our time.

Do you prefer the biretta with or without the pompom?

Without a pom pom is the more Roman style. You see that Cardinals have a biretta without. They are clergy of Rome, so to speak, no matter where in the world they are lent out.

The pom pom is more a French use, as I understand it.

There is also the eccentric tassel, a variation of the pompom which I choose to keep separate now, because it is a little strange.

The biretta developed from softer hats which eventually developed these "points" as they were pinched for uncovering and covering. They have a historic connection with academic and magisterial head gear, mortar boards and the like.

Birettas, which were obligatory for Mass, are also used outside liturgical occasions. For example, a priest’s academic headwear is the biretta trimmed with the color appropriate to his field, red for philosophy, blue for theology, green for law, etc.

They can have three or four points, depending on circumstances not entirely relevant here.

They keep your head warm too.

So, what will it be? Pompom? None? Cheer on your choice and give your reasons below.

To see the entire article and the results of this important poll and the amusing comments, go to the originating blog here.

Healthy Patterns for Relationships & Sexuality

2010-01-06T14:40:00.000-08:00

A forum presented by Russell Willingham of New Creation Ministries

This event is hosted without charge by Saint James' Cathedral

Friday January 22nd 7:00-9:00PM
Saturday, January 23rd 9:00am-3:30pm

1. Friday 7:00-9:00pm “Sexuality: A Brand New Approach”
2. Saturday 9:00am “Healthy Patterns for Relationships & Sexuality”
3. Saturday 10:30am “How did we get here?”
4. Saturday 1:00pm “Sexual Healing”
5. Saturday 2:30pm - Two Tracks -

“The Best Sex You’ve Ever Had” (For Married Couples Only)
“I’m Single - what about me?” (2 sessions: One for men and another for women)

Saint James' Cathedral
4147 E. Dakota Avenue, Fresno, CA
(559) 222-3721

Preface by Charles Williams to The New Christian Year

2009-12-03T12:28:00.001-08:00

The following is an excerpt from the blog "Charles Williams: The New Christian Year" If you are enjoying the Advent devotions from C.S. Lewis that we passed out at the Cathedral, then you are likely to appreciate these as well. Charles Williams was a friend of Lewis and a member of the Inklings.

THE NEW CHRISTIAN YEAR

Chosen by

CHARLES WILLIAMS

PREFACE

This book has been arranged on the same principles as The Passion of Christ (published in 1939), but it covers every day of the Christian Year. It is arranged, for convenience, according to the Sundays and chief Holy Days of the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England. It was impossible to include more Holy Days without either making the book larger than was desirable or else selecting according to my own personal wish. An effort has been made to ensure that all passages chosen shall have in them some particular greatness of phrasing. The works of the teachers and saints of the Christian Church are full of such phrases, and it sometimes seems a pity that we should prefer the looser and less powerful exhortations of contemporary piety. A recovery of a greater knowledge of the greater men is much to be wished.

This article continues here.

I have also added a permanent link to these devotions in Links list. - Van+

Liturgical Renewal

2009-12-01T10:27:00.000-08:00

The newly formed North American expression of the Anglican Communion, ACNA is in new territory. This is true in liturgics as much as every other area of our common life. Recently I have heard numerous voices expressing deep suspicion directed at the 1979 Prayer Book and calling for a return to the 1928 BCP or even a return to the 1662 Prayer Book (though some call for a kind of “modernization” of the language of the 1662 Book). The reasons for this desire are no doubt many, ranging from the well known and sustained attacks on the theology of the new prayer book expressed by the Prayer Book Society in their publications, to a kind of general angst that connects the '79 prayer book with the theological misadventures of the past thirty years in the Episcopal Church. Recently I read an article telling of the duplicity of Urban T. Holmes, exposing his alleged cover-up when challenged by traditionalists that the new prayer book under his oversight represented an enormous change in theology. Furthermore, a great many seem to think that by jettisoning the '79 prayer book the new Province will somehow be made safer from a return to the heresies of TEC.

So is the '79 prayer book the bastard child it is alleged to be? Did it lead to the unhappy state of theological mire TEC finds itself in today? These are questions best left to someone with considerably greater liturgical training than myself and are difficult, if not impossible to answer in any case. Yet I do have a concern, a dog in this race. My concern is that liturgical renewal not be lost as an Anglican pursuit. In order to frame my concern, I need to express my thoughts about what being an Anglican means to me, how I came to love Anglicanism as an expression of the Christian faith and how liturgical renewal should have a place in that wonderful and lovely kind of Christian faith.

I joined the Episcopal Church in 1980 and so have never worshiped with the 1928 prayer book. (I do hasten to say that I consider that a loss!) Due to the particularly “take no prisoners” approach to pastoral care the bishops were employing at the time, by 1980 the '28 prayer book had been expunged from all of the parishes I ever attended. I was at that time a thoroughgoing charismatic community church convert who went to Oral Roberts University (where else?). Unaware of the danger to my conviction that the Early Church was “just like us” in the free form charismatic movement, I studied the Early Church Fathers under one professor who was Eastern Orthodox and another who was Baptist leaning towards Orthodox (Fr. Ted Williams and Professor Howard Irvin, respectively). My eyes were opened.

The one Father that particularly converted me in heart and mind was the unforgettable St. Ignatius of Antioch. Ignatius, the bishop of Antioch, was on his way to Rome to be devoured by wild beasts for the crime of being a bishop. Since bishops in those times were not princes of the Church gowned in purple, but rather “the off-scouring of the world,” this godly man had probably never spoken to more than a few pagans at a time, so he actually burned with passion over the coming opportunity to speak or at least to act the part of a Christian before 50,000 certified Roman Pagans! It was an ancient mass evangelism opportunity absolutely relished by the old man. So I was sure he must have been a Baptist!

Then he spoke of having given a prophetic word in one of the churches that was so accurate that it was thought he had colluded with their controversial bishop. Ignatius replied:

Some there may be who wanted in a human way to mislead me, but the Spirit is not misled, seeing it comes from God.....When I was with you I cried out, raising my voice—it was God's voice-- “Pay heed to the bishop, the presbytery, and the deacons.” Some, it is true suspected that I spoke thus because I had been told in advance that some of you were schismatics. But I swear by Him for whose cause I am a prisoner, that from no human channels did I learn this. It was the Spirit that kept on preaching in these words: “Do nothing apart from the bishop; keep your bodies as if they were God's temple; value unity; flee schism; imitate Jesus Christ as he imitated his Father.” (To the Philadelphians)

So I figured Ignatius was a Charismatic Baptist!

Yet I was unprepared for what followed. Nothing in my Lutheran upbringings, certainly nothing in my charismatic training could have prepared me for the discovery of how catholic Ignatius was. I protested (of course!). I complained. I assumed some anonymous catholic had interpolated these foreign and altogether anachronistic doctrines into the text! Yet there was no exit through that door. Evidently all serious scholars believed the text was original and dated to A.D. 90-110. Here he was, this bishop of the church in the city of Antioch right in my path! The problem for me was that if he was not taught by St. Paul the Holy Apostle himself, then he surely was taught by someone who had been! So imagine my misery. This Ignatius was counseling obedience to the bishop, respect for the deacons, and honor for the presbyters! (Establishing strong evidence for a very early three-fold ministry). He called communion “the Eucharist” and dared to call it “the medicine of eternal life.” He declared that Christ Jesus was baptized “in order to hallow the waters.” He cried out:

My eros has been crucified and there burns in me no passion for material things. There is living water in me, which speaks and says inside me, “Come to the Father.” I take no delight in corruptible food or in the dainties of this life. What I want is God's bread, which is the flesh of Christ, who came from David's line; and for drink I want his blood: an immortal love feast indeed!

As he proclaimed these things, the Protestant, Charismatic, comfortable assumptions of my youth, like undermined citadels, began to crumble to ruins. I recalled in my childhood asking my mother about the small Episcopalian church near our Lutheran church in Tampa, Florida. “Mom, who are those guys,” I asked. “Oh them! They're almost Catholic”, she replied, and that Solomonic appraisal had served me well for the next 20 years of my life, delineating the ecclesiastical starting point of the dangerous slippery slope of dreadful apostasy ending at the feet of the Pope!

I must say, however, if Ignatius was a catholic, I had never met a catholic like him....He also said things like “Try to gather together more frequently to celebrate God's Eucharist and to praise him. For when you meet with frequency, Satan's powers are overthrown and his destructiveness is undone by the unanimity of your faith.” (Eucharist as Spiritual Warfare???) He yearned to proclaim the gospel to every creature under heaven; no, he positively lived for that cause! He prophesied, he believed in all the powers of Christ in the gifts of the Spirit. He talked more like a holy roller with catholic leanings than any catholic theologian or bishop of the modern period that I had ever read! So what would I do with this lion in the road...with this “Spirit-filled baptocharicatholic”? I have never been one to dismiss new truth by merely saying, “well, that is just not our tradition.” Resolve the dilemma. After all, did not the damned mentioned in the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians perish because “they refused to love the truth and so be saved”? (2 Thessalonians 2:10) Ignoring truth was not an option and, for me, Ignatius was an “inconvenient truth” if there ever was one. As E.V. Hill once remarked about the man who converted him from hatred to love, “That man's love beat me down....” Ignatius and other ancient authorities, had beaten me down.

I explored Eastern Orthodoxy along with nearly a dozen other Oral Roberts Seminary graduate students who were on the same path. Unlike some of these fellow students, I could not jettison the charismatic elements of the faith found both in Holy Scriptures and in the early fathers; yet the Eastern Orthodox clearly frowned upon any expression of charismatic gifts in the context of the Divine Liturgy. Furthermore, this was before I had heard of the Orthodox Church in North America (an American expression of Orthodoxy) and I found the encrusted ethnic elements of the Orthodox church to be a daunting barrier to a young man of American Anglo-Saxon descent.

The Roman Church was simply not an option. My readings in the early church Fathers only served to deepen my conviction that 19th century dogmas of papal infallibility and the immaculate conception of Mary (to take only two examples) were serious distortions of doctrine. I had also become convinced that the East is right about the filioque in the Nicene Creed and the attendant rise of unbiblical Papal privilege. My sojourn with the Orthodox only deepened my conviction that “the Great Modern Council,” (what would be the 8th Ecumenical Council) needed to be called between the Roman Church and Orthodoxy to revisit and by the grace of God heal the abomination of the 1054 Great Schism, putting everything on the table and refusing to adjourn until the kind of agreement arrived at during the Nicene Council could be repeated in our time. Since that was unlikely to happen in my lifetime, I did not seriously consider the Roman Church for a church home. That left Anglicanism as the next great expression of catholic and patristic faith. Here was a church that could conceivably combine all the elements that made Ignatius and his fellowship so winsome. The Anglican communion was catholic! It celebrated the Eucharist Sunday by Sunday (at least all the churches I was familiar with!)...just like Ignatius! It had the three-fold ministry of the catholic world dating back to Ignatius and past him into the New Testament Epistles. It worshiped with a liturgy, just like the synagogues of Jesus' time and, though it is unproven, very probably like the earliest churches Ignatius led or visited. Yet it also was charismatic, at least permissively. Was it not the church of Fr. Dennis and Rita Bennett, with a strong charismatic renewal movement? And though the church in the United States was really a pretty poor example, at least one could not deny that the rest of the Anglican Communion had shared with Ignatius a passion for taking the gospel everywhere in the world with both great enthusiasm and a host of martyrs.

Therefore, in 1980 I left ORU and traveled to Trinity Episcopal Church, Portland, Oregon where I was confirmed and three years later, ordained as a deacon and in 1984 as a priest. I lived, tragically, to watch the Diocese of Oregon unravel and deconstruct nearly everything that drew me to Anglicanism including effectively tossing the Fathers of the church into the dustbin of history.

I have told my story because I came to Anglicanism with a patristic vision of a church in which the various forms now so disparate could be again unified, as in the life and expression of Ignatius. The patristic era belongs to us all: Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Protestant. It was the time of the undivided Church of Jesus Christ and remained undivided for over a millennium. Perhaps by returning to our roots (and was that not the purpose of the Reformers?) we may again express and live a Christian faith that is universal and whole and therefore healthy and humble. Though not without it's problems, the 1979 Prayer book was also an honest attempt to return to our liturgical roots and develop expressions of liturgy that were compiled from ancient forms and faith. In my opinion, this is good! With Ignatius in mind, let us proceed. We have to ask the question of our new province, what will we become as we seek our identity beyond the Episcopal Church?

So where indeed do we go from here? Back to the '28 prayer book? Back to 1950's Episcopalianism in the good old days before the heretics? Way back to 1662 and the Elizabethan prayer book so that all modernism can be stamped out and held at bay with a liturgy that clearly says who we are and what we shall remain until the Lord's return? Do we swear off from the intoxicating wine of liturgical renewal for good and forever?

Is that really what Anglicanism is?

In my opinion, it may seem safe. It may seem secure. But I suggest that path may be the safety of a cave; ultimately perhaps even of a tomb.

After all, what was really the point of the Reformation in England. For nearly everyone but the Puritans, was it not to reclaim the “Church in England”? Did it not hinge on the argument that before A.D. 1000 the Church in England was not under the direct control of the Pope? Before the seventh century, had it not been in communion with, but not under any control of the emerging papacy? Had the English Christian kings around the first millennium not insisted that the Pope had no temporal authority in England nor even ecclesiastical authority sovereignly to appoint Bishops? Furthermore, there was the Celtic Church which was indigenous to the British Isles. These anonymous saints were the true founders of “The Church in England,” were they not? If all this is true, then a true Protestantism in England would be continuing to reform itself even today. Why would it stop with the 16th or 17th century? Would Thomas Cranmer really be happy were he to be told that his work and his words were the foundation of a wholly new church, let alone a particular denomination among many? Would he or any of the reformers be happy to be told that their work and vision had become the canon, the very foundation of the theology and the practice of the Anglican Communion? I truly think not! I think they would be appalled to find themselves idolized thus. I suspect they would point behind themselves and tell us to continue to reform the church of Jesus Christ in England until it was reformed to the church of the Fathers and ultimately to Jesus and the Apostles themselves.

I remember a discussion I had with a fellow “examining chaplain” in the Diocese of San Joaquin. I was astonished to hear him insist that the Anglican church began in the 16th Century! All this time I thought the Church of England began with Jesus the Christ and then spread through anonymous missionaries to England sometime in the second century after him! I thought we could claim the great saints Ninian and Columba and Patrick! But evidently they actually belonged to the Roman Church in his mind! If he were right, then we are not in any way a catholic church, nor a patristic church, nor do we have anything but a particular style to offer the world and the rest of the church; evidently merely an “English style” or an “Anglican ethos” expression of church. How sad that would be. Yet how unnecessary! No, I am told Cranmer searched all the manuscripts he could lay his hands on of ancient worship. He scoured the early Fathers. He borrowed prayers from East and West to put together the English Book of Common Prayer. Though we are not “Cranmerians,” we can certainly follow his example and search again, and create again with even greater depth and diversity of texts (Cranmer, for example could never have read anything from Ignatius of Antioch!) So I say, if the 1979 Prayer Book tried but fell short of liturgical renewal we should not banish the effort, but renew it with greater study and effort and purer motives (IE: no liberal agenda smuggled into the work!).

But first, let us backtrack a bit and look at what may lie behind the desires of many to recreate the 17th century church in the 21st.

Here are some salient reasons for that longing as I can see it:

Traditionalists simply love the language and meter and stately prose of the writing of that period. Without a doubt we cannot match the beauty of that language. Unlike modern English, the ancients wrote and spoke to create beauty and poetic power as well as clarity of expression. This is clearly not so much the case anymore. Nevertheless, this desire for ancient language in worship does lead to a curiosity. Were they to get their way and we all worship from the 1928 or 1662 Prayer Books, Anglicanism in America would hold the odd crown of being the church whose liturgical expression was written in the most inaccessible language of any modern church (including Rome except in the few places that are returning to Latin!) We would need classes for our people to understand Elizabethan English! This only proves the theory that many confuse “ancient” with holy, in much the same way that orthodox Jews in Jerusalem are the only Jews who will refuse to speak Hebrew on the street since it is the language of the Holy Books! (After all, Yiddish was created for street talk! Right?) Perhaps I am wrong, but I really do not believe we want to be seen as the most inaccessible of all the churches of Christ in our worship language 400 years after having been the first church to dare to revise and then print the liturgy in the language of the people! To me that seems a betrayal of Anglicanism, not it's natural expression.

Some believe the cause of all the heresies is the '79 prayer book. If we return to traditional prayer books there will never again be a wave of heresy such as we just experienced. While this argument seems convincing somewhat, we have to ask wider questions. Was the '79 prayer book really that powerful in directing human thought? Or have we simply witnessed yet another surge of deconstruction resulting from adherence to elements of the Enlightenment that are still progressing onward toward oblivion? After all, the Enlightenment was breathtaking for science, but an unmitigated disaster for philosophy, art, humanities and religion. The spirit of Voltaire lives on and many influenced by that philosophy still seek to destroy all faith, belief in miracles, and everything “unreasonable” in life. It is the triumph of the head over the heart instead of standing before the Lord with they mind in the heart. Though it is undoubtedly true that liberalism has a foothold in the '79 prayer book, it is also just as true that the vast majority of that book is thoroughly orthodox. Having said that, I would be very happy to move on from the '79 book if that does not necessarily mean moving away from liturgical renewal.

As mentioned above, part of the problem of liturgical renewal is that modern people have a terrible time writing good liturgy! Our form of English tends to be either highly intellectual or highly sentimental. Neither will do for liturgical expression. One needs the language of the heart. Words need to move not the feelings nor the intellect but the heart. Therefore liturgy must deal with the subjects of the Bible and express both sin and redemption, both deep inner yearnings of the heart and the changing of the will, both the darkness within the heart and the renewal of the Holy Spirit. Christ lives in the human heart according to the Scriptures...what are modern people to do with that? They must retool their own language and liturgy to engage the heart: therefore liturgy can be a weekly lesson in that pedagogy. It's no good reliving the heart-language of another people; we must find expression of it in our own style. The fruits of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, self control, humility and faith are NOT the topics of many conversations around the office or on the playing field. Our best hope in restarting the conversations about things that really matter is to form our prayers around these things. I think one of the reasons the Tolkien Trilogy was so phenomenally successful was this very thing; we were taken back...way back into a time when men and women spoke of things from the heart. The Lord of the Rings is neither sentimental nor blandly intellectual. It is the stuff of heart; blood, virtue, testing, failure, redemption and, ultimately, love -- not love of self, but sacrificial love. One could almost forge it all into a new religion, right there in the theater. Though The Lord of the Rings is, of course, pure fiction, yet the characters and their language and their world are not. They are clearly patterned after the great ancient sagas in their expression and laid over the framework of the Christian Redemption story in their shape. This “food for the heart” was greedily snapped up by modern people who did not even understand their own famished hearts' longing. We never talk that way to each other---no, not even to God. How sad. Liturgy must address this. Therefore our liturgy must be ancient and modern, produced by “scribes of the Kingdom” who “bring out of their treasures things both old and new.” It must be in the language of the heart, yet engage the mind. So it must be poetic (like much of the Bible!) and epic in scope. For such is our faith and the Story of God. I think we can do this, though it may take some time.

This is the moment for a new movement that seizes upon opportunities.

We could return to liturgical renewal seeking a Biblical, foundational, patristic and modern liturgy. Let it be one Ignatius might love and St. Paul might approve. Like Cranmer, but with many more sources before us, could we not energize the poets among us who have not surrendered to the dry intellectual poetry of our time, nor the sentimental hash of popular culture and who can draw from these ancient sources a language of the heart that would give to us food for the soul for generations to come?

As we wait for this to emerge could we, like the early church, not leave the door open for many local expressions and allow the people of God and the artists of the Faith to write and reprise and edit and redact until timeless beauty begins to be revealed from “the Spirit and the Bride”?

We could just be an English denomination...an exact and eternal replica of the place our 17th century fathers stopped on their road to renewal and reformation, beautiful and stately as that may be. Or perhaps we could continue their quest and discover the Spirit giving us the unique leadership offered to the humble living on the margins; the place of real discovery and innovation: the wellspring of prophets. We could return from our recent journey through the desert with words of the water of life.

At the very least, I would hope this plea would help to enable our leadership to offer a place for those who dream. If we must return to 1928 or 1662, would it be too much to ask those who suffered the outrages of the pastoral totalitarianism of the 1980's to give to others the drink of freedom denied to them? Could we allow that some or even most might return to the great prayer books of the past while others hear the voice of the Spirit say “Come” to the quest of “things old and things new” and find a new voice in worship of Almighty God? I, for one, would hope that the answer to these questions would be in the affirmative.

- The Very Rev Carlos Raines, Dean of Saint James' Anglican Cathedral

Sermon Audio Files

2009-11-21T16:27:00.000-08:00

In case you did not know, our audio expert John D. records all of our sermons and special events and converts them to mp3 files, which are then posted to the Saint James' web site.

The sermons for September 20th through November 22nd (including the Bishop's sermon) were just posted and can be heard here.

Sexual Misconduct Prevention Training

2009-11-19T16:21:00.000-08:00

December 5th from 9AM to Noon in the Zoe Eden Hall lower meeting room.

Predators target children's ministries. This training is given in order to increase our awareness and ability to protect children from predators.

Everyone who works with or ministers to children regularly at Saint James' Cathedral is REQUIRED to attend this training. This includes Children's Chapel team members, Sunday School teachers, childcare workers, youth workers, youth ministers, and ordained ministers, whether paid or volunteer. Ordained clergy must take this training every five years or less. Those studying for ordination are required to take SMPT prior to ordination. If you have received similar training and a background check elsewhere within the past five years, you must be able to supply current documentation in order to be exempt.

The first hour will include a video with discussion, which provides an overview of the risks and concerns, and is also a beneficial presentation to parents on how and why to be vigilant.

The second hour builds on the first hour with a video and discussion that is directed toward church workers and ministers, and focuses on how to take preventative action and use policies and practices that safeguard children.

In the third hour we will look at specific policies and practices used in the Diocese of San Joaquin and Saint James' Cathedral.

Please call the Cathedral office at (559) 222-3721 to let us know that you will be attending, and so that we will have sufficient materials prepared.

If you have any questions about the SMPT presentation or training, please contact Fr Van McCalister at (559) 222-3721.

Understanding and Accepting Your Mate's Differences

2009-09-11T10:19:00.000-07:00

We need to appreciate each other's uniqueness if we hope to live together in harmony.

by James Dobson, Ph.D.

The Gender Gap

My wife, Shirley, and I have been blessed with a wonderful relationship. She is my best friend, and I would rather spend an evening with her than with anyone else on earth. But we are also unique individuals and have struggled at times with our differences.

Our most serious conflict has raged now for forty-plus years, with no solution in sight. The problem is that we operate on entirely different internal heating mechanisms. I am very hot-blooded and prefer a Siberian climate. Shirley has ice in her veins and shivers even in warm surroundings. She has concluded that if we can have only one flesh between us, she's going to make it sweat! She will slip over to the thermostat at home and spin the dial to at least eighty-five degrees. All the bacteria in the house jump for joy and begin reproducing like crazy. Within a few minutes I start to glow and begin throwing open doors and windows. This ridiculous tug-of-war has been going on since our honeymoon and will continue till death do us part. In fact, there have been a few times when I thought death would part us over this difficulty!

Read the rest of this article here at Focus on the Family.

PRAYING HOME THE PRODIGALS

2009-08-30T17:34:00.000-07:00

September 25th and 26th with Fr Jim Wilson

Friday 7:00-9:00PM

Saturday 9:00AM-5:00PM

The Body of Christ is in an amazing season today. There have been more miracles -- and more decisions for Jesus -- in the past half century than in the rest of history combined. Yet God has spoken that we now enter a season of even more dramatic expressions of His loving presence in our midst. But God's Word proclaims that this Holy Spirit activity has a very specific purpose -- to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and thus prepare a people for righteousness. Praying Home the Prodigals is an event in which we learn how to engage our children, our neighbors, and our friends, of all ages and cultures, as ambassadors of that reconciliation for which Christ died, rose, and for which He promises to return. That engagement will feature signs and wonders, but their purpose is at all times to gain our attention for His great compassion; His overwhelming zeal to bring us into His abundant life and leave no one behind.

Jim Wilson is the author of "Living As Ambassadors of Relationships" and "The Holy Spirit and the End Times: A Season of Unusual Miracles", both published by Destiny Image. He is a popular radio and television talk show host, and the president of Pray-North-State, an interdenominational ministry of cooperation, encouragement.

This event is offered without charge but please RSVP with the Cathedral office: 222-3721.

Noah's Ark

2009-07-21T11:07:00.000-07:00

Here is a fascinating article, compli- ments of Sue Hague:

Working Replica of Noah's Ark opened In SCHAGEN, Netherlands.

The massive central door in the side of Noah's Ark was opened to the first crowd of curious townsfolk. Of course, it's only a replica of the biblical Ark, built by Dutchman (and Christian) Johan Huibers as a testament to his faith in the literal truth of the Bible.

The ark is 150 cubits long, 30 cubits high and 20 cubits wide. That's two-thirds the length of a football field and as high as a three-story house. Life-size models of giraffes, elephants, lions, crocodiles, zebras, bison and other animals greet visitors as they arrive in the main hold. A contractor by trade, Huibers built the ark of cedar and pine. Biblical scholars debate exactly what the wood used by Noah would have been. Huibers did the work mostly with his own hands, using modern tools and with occasional help from his son, Roy. Construction began in May 2005. On the uncovered top deck - not quite ready in time for the opening - will come a petting zoo, with baby lambs and chickens, and goats, and one camel.

Visitors on the first day were stunned. 'It's past comprehension,' said Mary Louise Starosciak. She and her husband were bicycling by (on a vacation) when they saw the ark looming over the local landscape. 'I knew the story of Noah, but I had no idea the boat would have been so big.' There is enough space near the keel for a 50-seat film theater where kids can watch a video that tells the story of Noah and his ark. Huibers said he hopes the project will renew interest in Christianity in the Netherlands , where church attendance has fallen dramatically in the past 50 years.

Now that I am old and gray...give me the time to tell this new generation (and their children too) about all your mighty miracles. - Psalm 71:18

Men's Retreat with Bob Sjogren

2009-07-15T17:53:00.000-07:00

The date this year for the Men's retreat is August 28-30, 2009.

This year's speaker will be Bob Sjogren, author of Cat and Dog Theology. We are asking that you reserve your spot soon with a deposit of $45.00 by July 15th. The balance will be due by August 10th. It is an honor for the men of St. James' to host this speaker and we are opening this retreat to the Diocese and also to friends of the Diocese, so we recommend you get your reservation in ASAP.

Prices for lodging including all meals:
Dorm $125.00
Quad $150.00
Double $160.00
Private $240.00

This will be a great retreat, you won't want to miss it.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT SOON!

Thank you,

St. James' Men's Retreat Committee.

For more information contact Tom Orr at 325-3724 or the Cathedral office at 222-3721.

ON ART, BEAUTY, AND LOVE AT THE CATHEDRAL

2009-06-08T08:25:00.000-07:00

by Sue Hague

Recently, I offered to do a 2010 Cathedral calendar (as a Women’s Retreat fundraiser) on my nifty Mac calendar program. This was partly because I really like the program and wanted to learn how to it use more effectively and partly because I knew there was a lot of beautiful art on the campus of St. James that was, for the most part, ignored or taken for granted. I knew this campus would make a lovely calendar.

I say “I,” but truly Randy (my husband) has been a big part of this project. We have been on a “J” curve learning about our new (and first!) digital camera, investing in a tripod because. . . ooops! our hands aren’t as steady as they used to be, plus learning to use the tripod properly, and then learning how to edit the pics once they are taken and loaded up into the Mac. Then there’s learning to use all the wonderful iPhoto features of the Mac! (Had to sign up for 1-on-1 instruction for that.) Taking pictures together at the Cathedral has been both incredibly rewarding and equally frustrating as we each see different things to capture in a piece of art! But I digress.

Whenever possible I’m trying to take close-ups of faces and/or the center/heart of the art work. As I show these pics to various members of the church, they all comment, ‘oh what a lovely picture! Where did you take that?’ to my great amusement. The exception of course, is Dorothy Ralph Gager’s moving and distinctive bas reliefs at the Stations of the Cross.

Not being a “cradle room crib roll” member of St. James (or for that matter even a native-born Episcopalian), I have paid attention to the accouterments of the Cathedral, the new Chapel and the surrounding environment of Saint James, as it’s all been so new and different. I’m a Presbyterian by religious training and the only ornamentation we had to stare at growing up was our lovely stained glass windows at First Pres. (downtown). The statues and fonts and carved altar and pulpit, the Stations of the Cross, the fountain and gardens of St. James are all strange and wonderful to me. It has been a joy and marvel to learn a tiny bit of the history of our church’s art--the symbolism of our rose windows and the miracles that surrounded our [now] Chapel windows. All the stories! What a testimony of love.

St. James is surrounded by love! Love of the artist for a thing well-created; love of family members who remember a loved one who died with art; love of our Cathedral by many, many members who wanted to beautify the church by providing the Cathedral with a pair of silver candlesticks, a hand-woven linen altar covering or a gift of our hand-carved pulpit. Ultimately, of course, all of this beauty and creativity was motivated by love of our Savior. What a blessing this project has become for me!

As I sat in the Chapel after taking a second batch of pics and saw the inscription below the glowing St. James Window (facing west) I noted that it was created on June 2, 1898 by an anonymous artist. It reminded me of the near and distant saints that went before us and provided us with beauty to enhance our worship. I think that, besides creating a [hopefully successful!] fundraising opportunity for Women’s Retreat and making us all aware of lots of upcoming events and times at the Cathedral in the new year, we all need to stop and reflect on the beauty and the love that surrounds us as we worship our Lord. I feel so cocooned! What a haven of love here.

Given the titanic battle we’re in with the Episcopal Church, these pictures are all the more poignant in that we may well walk away, for love's sake, from all the art that surrounds us. Best to appreciate what we have now while we still can, realizing that God may well call us to a new location and new art. The good news is that love travels well!

Scripture Must Be a Part of Our Strategy

2009-06-01T09:47:00.000-07:00

Comfort Ye My People

2009-05-07T14:44:00.000-07:00

Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God. Isaiah 40:1

Dcn Dale Matson 05-07-09

As I reflected on a portion of the Gospel lesson from Luke (Chapter 6) for the Daily office for Wednesday May 6^th, it also occurred to me again that we are in the midst of a serious legal struggle in our Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin against The Episcopal Church (TEC). It is easy to be anxious and fearful about the possible outcome. It is also possible to adopt a self righteous anger too. However, our Gospel lesson is quite a contrast to what would be an expected human response. “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” This is a portion of Luke’s “Sermon on the Plain” which is a kind of parallel to Mathew’s Sermon on the Mount.

There is a property dispute of course but hopefully both sides would say that ultimately, God owns the property not a Parish, Diocese or a Denomination. It also occurred to me that while property provides a place to gather for worship and fellowship, it can also be an occasion to misunderstand and be misdirected as to what is meant when we talk about the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God has never been about bricks, stones, mortar, wood and steel.

I believe the Jews of the Old Testament confused God’s presence among them with the Temple in Jerusalem. Much of their pride and identity was centered on the temple rather than God Himself. Seeing the Dome of the Rock sitting on the very ruins of the Temple should be evidence enough that God has left a historical reminder that the Temple and the land of Israel are not as important as the God who gave both to Israel. While it is what they are fighting each other about, who owns the land and the buildings is really not the central issue for the Arabs and Israelis nor should it be the central issue for us either. “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” (John 4:20, 23).

With each crisis in our personal lives and in the life of our faith community, we are faced with understandable initial human responses of anxiety, fear, anger or self righteousness. I am reminded of the man who put his faith in his possessions. "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” (Luke 12:20) My brothers and sisters, we are the Body of Christ and the Temple of the Holy Spirit. The property and the buildings belong to God and Him alone. Amen

Camp H2O Celebrates Tenth Anniversary

2009-05-01T12:30:00.001-07:00

2009 MARKS THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF CAMP H2O!

Camp H2O meets July 19-25, 2009 at ECCO in Oakhurst. The cost per camper is $325.

Camp H2O is designed for high school students and its main focus is to make disciples for Jesus Christ. It is there for students who want to explore their faith, deepen their faith, or even find it for the first time. This is done through various workshops and teachings. Students are taught and mentored by leaders with years of ministry experience who will cultivate their faith in ways that they may not have thought of or encountered.

Through worship and teaching, Camp H2O hopes to bring many young people to follow the living Lord, Jesus Christ.

Some young people find it difficult to come up with the camp tuition. If you would like to make a contribution to provide a scholarship for one of these campers, please call Daniel Marker at 559-244-4828 or send you contribution to The Diocese of San Joaquin, 4159 E. Dakota Ave, Fresno CA, 93726 - Attention "Camp H2O"

National Day of Prayer - May 7th

2009-05-01T12:17:00.001-07:00

Numerous cities are taking advantage of the annual Day of Prayer next Thursday, May 7th.

Locally, people are meeting at Fresno City Hall at 7:PM and Clovis City Hall at 12:Noon. The Very Rev Carlos Raines is the M.C. at the Fresno event.

WHAT IS YOUR CITY DOING, AND ARE YOU AND YOUR PEOPLE PARTICIPATING?

Started in 1775 with the first National Call to Fasting & Prayer by the Continental Congress; 1863 - Pres. Lincoln declared a National Day of Prayer & Fasting; 1988 - Pres. Reagan signs into law the designation of the First Thursday in May as the annual observance for the National Day of Prayer.

"It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God." - Pres. George Washington, 1789.

www.ndptf.org/ for more information

Mission Faire

2009-04-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

Mission Faire at Northwest Church, Fresno

April 17-18, 2009

“Harvest Gathering of Churches for God's Greatest Glory” will host three superlative keynote speakers and 36 workshops to inspire us all to fulfill Jesus's words “I tell you, open your eyes, and look at the fields! They are ripe for Harvest.”

If six people from our church sign up by March 29th we will save 50% on the registration fee.

Contact Carol Raines at 299-9737 or add your name to the sign up sheet in the narthex.

STEPPING UP

2009-04-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

a journey through the Psalms of Ascent

Wednesday, April 29th

A video series by Beth Moore, hosted by June Waltenberger on Wednesday Evenings in the Fireside Room from 7:00PM-8:30PM will begin on April 29th. The workbooks are $12.95 but are not needed until the second session. This Bible study will meet for six weeks. Childcare will be provided. For more information, contact June at 244-4828 or june[at]sjoaquin.net

Holy Week & Easter 2009

2009-03-28T11:09:00.000-07:00

We invite you to join us on a journey of faith through Holy Week and Easter

PASSION WEEK

PALM SUNDAY, April 5th

8:00AM & 10:30AM with Bishop Schofield

MAUNDY THURSDAY, April 9th at 7:00PM

GOOD FRIDAY, April 10th

Noon: Stations of the Cross
1-3PM Good Friday Service

EASTER

EASTER DAY, April 12th

5:30AM Sunrise/Easter Vigil
8:00AM Communion Service
9:30AM Family Communion Service
10:30AM Easter Egg Hunt
11:00AM Easter Celebration Service with Bishop Schofield

The Second Sunday in Lent

2009-03-06T10:00:00.000-08:00

The Lessons & Collect for Sunday, March 8th

Genesis 22:1-14
Romans 8:31-39
Mark 8:31-38
Psalm 16 or 16:5-11

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Confession & Mercy

2009-03-06T09:46:00.000-08:00

The meditation for Wednesday March 11th will be on Confession and Mercy. We will discuss the practical aspects of making a confession: how to prepare, what to expect and a review of the Sacrament of Reconciliation as presented in the Book of Common Prayer, page 447. There will be opportunity for questions and discussion. By the way, we discovered last Wednesday that we were finished with Evening Prayer around 7:45PM and so began the Meditation earlier than originally published.

To schedule a confession, please call the Cathedral office. Or, you can just show up and enter the chapel if no one is there already. Otherwise, please wait outside until the person before you has come out and then enter in and kneel/sit behind or next to the priest.

Wednesday Nights in Lent
March 4th through April 1st at the Chapel of the Holy Innocents

Confession: 6-6:45 P.M.
Stations of the Cross: 7:00 P.M.
Evening Prayer: 7:30 P.M.
Meditation: 7:45 P.M.

Class on Old Testament - Historical Books

2009-03-06T09:09:00.000-08:00

OT-II Historical Books

Class Date: Saturday, April 25, 2009 9:00AM – 4:00PM
Location: Lower meeting room of Zoe Eden at St James Cathedral, Fresno CA

Instructor: The Rev Canon Kenneth Richards
E-mail: kdrichards[at]sbcglobal.net

Registrar: Christina Gomez-Vidal
E-mail: chris[at]sjoaquin.net
Phone: 1-800-498-4159

Please contact Christina to register and to request a syllabus for this course.

Summary

In this course, the student will be introduced to the Historical Books of the Old Testament. The course will focus on the history from Joshua leading the people of Israel into the promised land, through the judges and numerous kings of Israel and Judah, their captivity and finally the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple under Ezra and Nehemiah. Through the overview of the Historical Books, the instructor will identify the theme of deliverance and salvation, Messianic themes and the God’s sovereign will worked out through the people of Israel. While there are two separate courses on the prophets, this course will be a helpful introduction to how God revealed his will to the kings of Judah and Israel through the prophets.

Required Texts

Inside the Bible by Kenneth Baker, Published by Ignatius Press, 1998

Old Testament Theology by Paul R. House, Published by IVP Academic, 1998

Tyndale Bible Dictionary by Walter A. Elwell and Philip W. Comfort, Published by Tyndale House Publishers, 2001

A Study Bible (such as the ESV Study Bible by Crossway or the NIV Study Bible by Zondervan)

Please bring a Bible and a Book of Common Prayer to class.
Information on the texts can be found here.

Montana Personhood Amendment Passes State Senate, 26-24 Vote.

2009-02-26T13:36:00.000-08:00

Helena, Montana - 02/26/2009 - Montana's Senate passed constitutional Personhood Amendment, SB 406, in a 26-24 vote. The amendment, introduced by Senator Dan McGee, passed on its third reading on the Senate floor this morning. This is the first Personhood Amendment in U.S. history to pass a State Senate.

"Senator Dan McGee, writing the language of SB 406 himself, has shown what it truly means to be pro-life," stated Keith Mason, of Personhood USA. "Senator McGee's successful efforts on behalf of all human beings at all stages of human life are a giant step forward in historic efforts to ensure the rights and protection of every individual."

SB 406, which defines person for the purposes of application of inalienable rights, states, "All persons are born free and have certain inalienable rights...person means a human being at all stages of human development of life, including the state of fertilization or conception, regardless of age, health, level of functioning, or condition of dependency."

"Praise God! The honor of being the first State Senate in U.S. history to recognize the personhood of pre-born children goes to Montana," commented Cal Zastrow of Personhood USA. "Thanks to the leadership of Sen. Dan McGee, The Montana Personhood Amendment now moves forward to the State House of Representatives."

Nicene Creed Illumination

2009-02-23T17:28:00.000-08:00

“. . . LIGHT OF LIGHT, TRUE GOD OF TRUE GOD, BEGOTTEN, NOT MADE, OF ONE ESSENCE WITH THE FATHER, THROUGH WHOM ALL THINGS WERE MADE.

Both a prophet and a visionary looked into eternity and saw that it had no sun or moon or stars, but nevertheless had a certain ineffable light, which penetrated and illuminated everything (cf. Isaiah 60:19 and Rev. 21:23). Do you know, O chosen people, what sort of light this is? You surmise: it is the eternal Light of the face of the Most High. It is the Light of the eternal Father, the Light of the eternal Son, and the Light of the eternal Holy Spirit - one Light, one Deity, one Beauty.”

- St. Nikolai of Zhicha [Serbian Orthodox]

Excerpt from: St. Nikolai of Zhicha: The Faith of Chosen People

The Last Sunday After the Epiphany

2009-02-17T10:32:00.000-08:00

Lessons for Sunday February 22, 2009

1 Kings 19:9-18
2 Peter 1:16-19(20-21)
Mark 9:2-9
Psalm 27 or 27:5-11

O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Transfiguration

As you read through the lessons you will discover that The Last Sunday After the Epiphany takes up the theme of the the Transfiguration. However, the holy day reserved for The Transfiguration is August 6th.

For meditation and discussion: What is so significant about the Transfiguration that it warranted two dates in the lectionary, each year?

[Don't be shy - post your comments here at the link below.]

Basso Profondo via Deacon Dale

2009-02-17T10:30:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Blog! Thank you, Fr. Van!

2009-02-03T17:01:00.001-08:00

This is great! I am blessed to invite any of our folks at the cathedral to use this blog to communicate with each other and to have discussions. I hope each of us will enjoy out time here and find that it is edifying to the body of Christ here at St. James'. I hope Fr. Van will give us all some pointers about etiquette and Christian behavior on this blog. May God bless us all as we use this technology to serve the Lord and one another!

Fr. Carlos

Wednesdays During Lent

2009-02-03T15:35:00.001-08:00

Confession 6:00 – 6:45PM
Stations of the Cross 7:00 – 7:30PM
Evening Prayer 7:30 – 8:00PM
Lenten Devotions 8:00 – 8:30PM

Ash Wednesday is on February 25th and marks the first day of Lent.

Beginning Wednesday March 4th through Wednesday April 1st we will gather at the Chapel of the Holy Innocents and offer time for confessions, walk and pray through the Stations of the Cross, offer Evening Prayer and Lenten Devotions. You are welcome to attend only those services as will be best for you. Each service stands on its own and does not require your attendance at the others.

As Advent is the time of preparation for Christ’s incarnation at Christmas, Lent is the time of preparation for Christ’s resurrection on Easter. The forty days of Lent provide us the opportunity to “clean house” [Isaiah 1.16] – to reflect on the fact that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God [Romans 3.23] and then to enjoy his love and mercy [Matthew 11.28]. Lent shows us Christ crucified so that we may have eyes to see him glorified in the resurrection.

A priest will be available on Wednesday evenings in the Chapel of the Holy Innocents from 6:00 – 6:45PM for those who plan to make their confessions during Lent. You are invited to make an appointment through the Cathedral office, or just show up and wait for the next opening. If you have questions about how to make a confession, or why a confession is beneficial, please feel free to call one of your priests. [See James 5.16]

We will meet outside of the chapel for the Stations of the Cross. (You may want to bring a flashlight). Praying the Stations of the Cross is a condensed pilgrimage through Jerusalem where we will follow Jesus as he walked the way to Golgotha and the Cross. As we follow Jesus up the Via Dolorosa, we see the consequences of our rebellion and the extent of the Father’s love for us [John 3.16-21]. Afterwards, we will meet in the chapel for Evening Prayer and a Lenten Devotion.

Please note that Deacon Dale is moving Wednesday Evening Prayer from 4:30PM to 7:30PM during Lent.

May you have a fresh encounter and a renewed faith in our Lord this Lent.

Yours in Christ,

Van+

Worship Schedule

2009-02-01T14:25:00.000-08:00

Times for Worship

Sundays - in the Cathedral

8:00 a.m. - Holy Eucharist with traditional Hymns
9:30 a.m. - Adult Forum
10:30 a.m. - Holy Eucharist with Choral Music and Contemporary Music
10:30 a.m. - Childrens' Chapel in Chapel of the Holy Innocents
Child Care is provided from 9 a.m. - noon for those who are too young for Childrens' Chapel.

Monday through Friday - in the Chapel of the Holy Innocents

7:45 a.m. - Morning Prayer followed by 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist

Directions to St James' Cathedral

2009-02-01T14:17:00.000-08:00

View Larger Map

How does this Blog work?

2009-02-01T12:08:00.000-08:00

This website uses a "blog" format rather than the typical web page format. This means that all of the articles in this column are in chronological order, with the most current issue always on the top.

Each article is interactive, which means that you can post comments, or forward it to others as an e-mail. To write or read a comment, click on the "Comments" link in the lower right hand corner of each post. However, we do insist that all comments exhibit Christian charity and decency. Therefore, comments that are rude, uncharitable or inappropriate will be deleted. [Consider James chapter four]

To get back to the main blog page from a specific post that you have selected, click on the "home" link at the bottom, below the "Comments" window.

Each article has a "label" at the bottom. By clicking on that label, you will find other articles with that same label. The narrow right-hand column contains useful information such as the most recent posts ("Blog Archive") and links to other websites.

If you have a question or comment that you do not want posted in the comments section, or if you have an article that you would like posted, please send an e-mail to van[at]sjoaquin.net