This Sunday, we will celebrate St. Francis of Assisi, 12th century founder of the Franciscan religious order. Francis is best known in modern times for his love of creation and deep rapport with animals, resulting in the many animal blessings taking place this weekend, including our own at our 4:00pm Evensong & Blessing of the Animals. But this saint’s life was complicated, and his adoration of creation was only one of his many charisms.

Born into a wealthy merchant family, Francis underwent a series of visions and experiences that transformed him from a comfortable participant in society’s pleasures to an impassioned advocate in solidarity with the poor. While still a young man and praying in a small chapel, he received a vision of Christ saying, “Francis, rebuild my church.” Though he initially misunderstood the message to mean rebuilding the crumbling church in which he had been praying, Francis eventually came to understand and embody a strong vocation of calling the church into a deeper relationship with the world, and in particular those with those who are suffering. 

Last Sunday at St. James Cathedral, we welcomed journalist Ray Suarez, and researcher, oncologist, and MacArthur Fellow, Funmi Olopade to our 10:00 a.m. Forum. Together they kicked off Voices on the Commons, a series of conversations between individuals whose work invites us to engage more deeply where the church meets our wider world. Public intellectuals, doctors, journalists, legal scholars, and artists - all bringing a perspective that will help us put our faith to work in the world around us, and help us to live more fully into our role as a cathedral that hosts conversations for the common good.

This coming Sunday, I hope that you will plan to join me for worship this Sunday and will join me in welcoming author Nancy French and journalist David French to the conversation. 

Faithfully,

Lisa+

Thérèse of Lisieux

In Luke's Gospel, Jesus makes a distinction between the kind of giving that comes from surplus and the kind that happens under conditions of constraint. Deacon Rick reflects on the ways this latter form of giving marked the life of Thérèse of Lisieux, a Carmelite nun who turned a life marked by illness into a theology of joy derived from small deeds within the Kingdom of God. 


Bible Reading: Luke 21:1-4

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost - October 4, 2026

We're back in the Cathedral!

We are thrilled to be back in the Cathedral this Sunday. Please note that our 12:10 p.m. weekday services will continue in the Chapel.

8:00 a.m. - Spoken Eucharist in St. Andrew’s Chapel

9:00 a.m. - Family Eucharist in the cathedral

10:00 a.m. - The Forum in Kyle’s Place 

10:00 a.m. - Youth Group

11:00 a.m. - Choral Eucharist in the cathedral and Live-Streamed

12:15 p.m. - Coffee Hour in Kyle’s Place

12:15 p.m. - Meals Among Us Food Prep on the Second Floor of St. James Commons

4:00 p.m. - Pet Blessing and Evensong

For those who are unable to be present, the 11 a.m. Eucharist will be live-streamed on our streaming webpage or YouTube.

Don't miss author and political commentator Nancy French alongside opinion columnist and journalist David French in conversation this Sunday, October 4, at 10:00 AM in Kyle’s Place!

Blessing of the Animals Sunday, October 4 at 4 p.m.

Bring your pets to church! At 3:45 p.m., animals and their companions gather on the plaza. At 4 p.m., the Cathedral Choir and Choristers will lead all of God's creatures in procession into the Cathedral for a service of Choral Evensong and the blessing. The anthem will be Benjamin Britten's cantata Rejoice in the Lamb, an exciting work evoking how all creatures lift up their voices to extol our Creator.

All Souls’ Day, November 1 at 1 p.m.

Each year at All Souls’ Day, we gather to remember those we love through prayer, Holy Communion, and Herbert Howells’s deeply moving Requiem, performed by the Cathedral Choir. At this service, clergy read aloud from each corner of the Cathedral the names of those who have died, offering comfort through prayer and Howells's luminous, consoling music. If you have lost someone dear—whether recently or long ago—please submit their name, including a phonetic pronunciation guide for our clergy.

As autumn settles in, our cathedral community continues to be enriched by moments of beauty, thoughtful dialogue, and shared worship.

We offer our gratitude to Conductor in Residence Andrew Megill and Acting Director of Music Nico Tjoelker for leading our Cathedral Choir in Sing Unto the Lord a New Song—a beautifully received concert that deeply moved all who attended. We also celebrated the launch of our Voices on the Commons series—held on Sundays at 10:00 AM—which kicked off with engaging conversations featuring Ray Suarez and Dr. Funmi Olopade. Beyond our own doors, Dean Lisa preached at the Church of the Ascension in Chicago this past Tuesday for the Feast of St. Michael & All Angels (Michaelmas).

In each of these gatherings—whether through song, story, or sacred word—we are reminded of the vibrant faith and fellowship that connect us within our cathedral walls and across the broader Church.

Young Adults

The Cathedral Young Adults & Friends are gathering on Sunday, October 11, from 12:30 to 3:00 p.m. for the kickoff of our Autumn 2026 Prayer Workshop Series, featuring lunch and a session on Imaginative Contemplation led by The Rev. Stacy Alan. Beyond traditional liturgical prayer, this gathering offers a space to discover experiential ways to pray using your imagination, mind, and body.

First Sunday Book Group Reads Into the Heart of Romans

Come be a part of our discussion on Sunday, October 4, at 1:00 PM in the second-floor library (65 E. Huron) as we dive into Chapter 1 of N.T. Wright's Into the Heart of Romans. Need the text before Sunday? You can read Chapter 1 online or buy a discounted copy from the publisher. Direct any inquiries for this meeting to Laura Jenkins.

St. James Pride


Spread Holiday Cheer with the Pinta Pride Project!

St. James Pride gathers on Saturday mornings from October 3 through November 28, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM in Room 212 to write holiday notes of support to LGBTQ+ community members feeling alienated from family and friends. We provide all cards, addresses, and writing templates—just bring your care and support. Our first gathering is Saturday, October 3.

St. James First Tuesday Book Group

Everyone is welcome to join!

Join us as we discuss Hill by Harriet Clark! Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, October 6 in the second-floor meeting room.

Please send any questions to Marcy Backhus.

St. James Arts Council

Arts Council will meet next Sunday, 10/11 at 12:30. Please join us we continue to discuss the importance of the Arts in our worship experiences and outreach ministries.

Centering Prayer Wednesdays at 6:45 p.m.

Reconnecting with our inner quiet can transform everything, and after our summer recess, we are gathering once again on Wednesday evenings at 6:45 p.m. CT for Centering Prayer. Joining our nationwide circle by phone offers a simple, powerful way to sit in silence, let go of what you do not need, and ground yourself in the presence of your Higher Power. Whether Centering Prayer is a long-standing practice for you or something you are curious to try for the first time, there is a warm space waiting for you.

60s & 70s Group

Looking to deepen your faith and connection at St. James Cathedral? The 60s & 70s Group meets twice a month—on the 2nd Tuesday in the 2nd-floor library (65 E. Huron) for spiritual discussions, and on the 4th Tuesday for fun social outings like museum visits, walking tours, and dinners. We are committed to spiritual growth, lifelong learning, and supportive fellowship.

Scripture Reflection group


Join the Scripture Reflection Group every Monday night from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in Room 212 (library) to read, reflect, and discuss today's lectionary readings. Optional Evening Prayer at 5:30 p.m.

For more information or to sign up, please contact Jacob Perkins.

Find Your Place in Worship

Calling All Lovers of Baked Goods

Express your hospitality to the St. James community by contributing baked goods for Sunday coffee hour at Kyle’s place in the Welcome Center. Whether store-bought or homemade, your delicious contributions are always welcome—simply sign up for a Sunday at the Welcome Center table.

Open House Chicago

Represent St. James as a greeting volunteer during Open House Chicago on Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18, at St. James Cathedral and St. Andrew's Chapel! A shift lasts just a couple of hours, and every volunteer earns a Priority Access Pass to skip lines at OHC sites all weekend long. Bring your friendly nature and help us extend a warm welcome to hundreds of neighborhood guests.

Reach out to Laura Jenkins to claim your spot!

While traffic patterns will be disrupted, most routes to St. James will be open, though some extra planning and time will be required. Sunday activities will proceed as usual.

To better support our parish ministries, groups, staff, and lay leaders, we have created a new Cathedral Communications Submission Form. This streamlined process allows you to submit e-news announcements, bulletin blurbs, event promotions, and website updates—and helps our communications team review and publish your items efficiently.

Whether you are promoting an upcoming ministry event, sharing news, updating group information, or sending in photos from a recent gathering, we want to hear from you!

We look forward to making communications simpler and more organized for our entire cathedral community!

In our Prayers at St. James

Commended to the prayers of the cathedral community: Ginger, Loya, Andronica, Ibukun, Ted, Lois, Mary, Yvonne, Lee, Rachael, Jonah, Richard, Cleo, Frank, Joshua, Nicole, Pamela, Sue, Wei Wei, James, Eoin, Bill, Gina, Dominic, Michael, Gary, Carolyn, Donna, Amanda, Ann, Robert, Thomas, Jack, Christopher, Arba, Bob, Kaye, Marcy, and Katherine

Those who have died and have been commended to the prayers of the cathedral community:  Paula Walters, Florence Murphy, Cynthia Hackney

All those who have died by gun violence in the city of Chicago: Deangelo, Angela, Naseem, Mark, and Dorothy

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: Our bishop, Paula, and our Presiding Bishop, Sean; Bishop’s Staff at St. James Commons and staff of our Companion Dioceses of SE Mexico and Renk

St. James Capital Campaign Prayer

Faithful God, you call us to be living stones in a spiritual temple.

Bless the mission and outreach of this cathedral church.

By the power of your Holy Spirit, enable us confidently to restore its fabric, trustfully to reimagine our vocation, and boldly to renew our ministries in your name.

Make this place a house in which your love dwells and in which all your people find welcome.

Grant this, we pray, through the One who leads us ever onwards in your service, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.