From Your Cathedral
Friday, 08.20.21
When We Gather This Fall…
From Mary Lusk, Canon Community Developer
When we gather this fall, some of us will feel eagerness to be together, some will feel hope, some will feel a strong sense of the Holy, some may feel a bit of anxiety for the newness of it all. Gather we will this fall, with or without masks! Gather we will this fall to connect with one another, to strengthen bonds in the community, to deepen the relationship with God. And gather we will, both in person and online!
As the Community Developer at your Cathedral, one of my roles is to support others in developing programs for the wide range of our community, and I hope you will find one or more program offerings that will help you grow in the love of Christ.
With the kickoff of the program year on September 12, we will celebrate being together with food after both morning services – and the festivities will be outside on the front parking lot! On Sundays following that, we will offer fellowship with opportunities to meet a different ministry group each week. We plan to gather outside as long as the weather is appropriate. Please join your community in the fellowship – and give yourself a challenge to meet one new person each week.
Our weekly fall schedule includes ways to gather and to grow together in small groups, to connect with one other discussing a scripture reading, to experience the spiritual practice of Godly Play, to develop deep connections with similar age youth, or older adults! Something for everyone!
Our Wednesday night formation has replaced the previous Sunday morning formation during the past year and will continue as we “Gather ‘Round” the tables this fall. The first four weeks, to be presented virtually beginning September 15, will focus on Benedictine Spirituality and we are thrilled that Bishop Craig Loya will be our opening presenter! Following weeks include Pastor Jan Bros of Abbey Way community, Dr Christine Luna Munger of Episcopal House of Prayer, and The Rev. Anna Ostenso Moore. Find all the details on our web site here.
Living the Way of Love in Community will return after a very successful inaugural session, beginning the last week of September. This is an opportunity for small groups of people (10-12), to meet together bi-weekly via zoom, deeply connect with one another and develop more confidence in sharing the love with Jesus with the world. Please read more on the web site and consider this opportunity.
Episcopal 101 series returns beginning Monday October 11, via zoom. This series is for anyone who wants to learn more about the Episcopal church, whether new or long-time member, and would like to connect with others. Great opportunity to hear from various clergy and ministry leaders! Details and registration information (coming soon) on our web site here.
An opportunity for a new spiritual practice for many people will be on Tuesday evenings and is the practice of Godly Play. Monica Krueger will be offering this weekly at 6:15, via zoom, for children, families and people of all ages. Highly recommended as a way to slow down at the end of a day! Go here for information and registration.
Contemplative prayer is another spiritual practice and that is offered every Thursday at our Cathedral. At this time, the gathering is in person, in All Saint’s Chapel. It begins at 9 am and lasts for 30 minutes. Give this practice a try if you haven’t already – and you may begin to feel more focused on Christ.
Below is a short listing of more of our groups that gather, either in person or virtually:
Youth groups for 4th grade and up, meet in small groups, based on age. In addition to Youth groups, there is a confirmation group as well as a pilgrimage group! To find out more about these exciting and enriching programs, please contact Youth Minister Stacey Clatanoff
Young Adults/Young Professionals. Watch for information about a Way of Love group specifically for you, contact [email protected] for more information.
Mom’s groups, for mom’s with children at home, gather regularly via zoom. These groups are supported by Rev Anna Ostenso Moore, please contact her to find about more.
Men’s groups are in the works with plans for a fall start. Please contact Rev Tim Kingsley to be included in the inaugural gathering.
The Knitting group link meets in person (when Covid procedures allow) every other Tuesday morning. Join in whether you knit, or crochet, or sew! There is always lively conversation, along with prayers and blessings for the completed work.
SAAGES is an active group for our members around 60 years and up. (No IDs are checked!) They gather monthly, either online or in person, and offer a wide-range of interesting activities. Read more on our web site and join in the fun!
To find out about various ways to work together and support God’s people in community, please visit the Serve page of our web site or contact Archdeacon Rena Turnham.
There are so many more ways to connect with God and with each other, to build the bonds of community. The point is that we are gathered, with or without masks; virtual or in person. We need each other, and no matter the number of people or the format we use when we gather, God is always in our midst.
