Open Door October November 2014

OPEN DOOR October / November 2014

Baptism 101

Renewalworks report

Dream Together Conference

Treasures Old & New

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Page 6

Page 20

Page 29

STAFF & VESTRY Phone: 303.831.7115

CLERGY The Very Reverend Peter Eaton Rector and Dean, Ext. 7721 The Reverend Robert Hendrickson Sub-Dean, Ext. 7706

Highlights Old & New

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Baptism 101

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RenewalWorks Report

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The Reverend Elizabeth Marie Melchionna, Canon, Ext. 7731 The Reverend Jadon Hartsuff Canon, Ext. 7732 The Reverend Charles LaFond Canon Steward, Ext. 7711 The Reverend Elizabeth Costello Curate, Ext. 7704

SENIOR STAFF Kim McPherson Director of Religious Education Ext. 7729 Mike Orr Director of Communications Ext. 7730

I Wish the church were more like a museum

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The Saint Francis Center and The Women’s Homeless Initiative

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Stephen Tappe Organist and Director of Music Ext. 7726 Tara Williams Director of Finance and Administration Ext. 7720

VESTRY Larry Kueter, Senior Warden Tim Dunbar, Junior Warden Mary Ellen Williams, Treasurer David Abbott, Clerk Class of 2017 David Abbott, Tamra d’Estrée, Jack Denman, Mike McCall Class of 2016 David Ball, Jen Courtney-Keyse, Suni Devitt, Amanda Montague Class of 2015 Susan Chenier, Ned Rule, Mary Laird Stewart, John Van Camp Following page: To the Ends of the Earth, Donald Jackson with contributions from Andrew Jamieson and Sally Mae Joseph, Copyright 2002, The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota USA. Used by permission.

All rights reserved.

Family Ministries at Saint John’s

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From the Dean: Living a Deeper Life with the Living God The response has been overwhelming.

The spiritual inventory RenewalWorks, which so many of us completed earlier in the year, has shown us what we suspected. All of us want to live a deeper life with the living God. And because the Church exists primarily to enable human beings to grow into union with God, this means we are being called to live into our truest selves as a community of faith.

We grow into living a deeper life with the living God in a whole range of ways. We do this primarily though worship and prayer, both together as the Christian family on Sundays and at other times, and as individuals when we take time each day for intimacy with God in prayer, contemplation, silence, and meditation. We cannot escape a commitment to this kind of engagement in public and personal worship if we are serious in our desire to deepen our relationship with God. We are fortunate at the Cathedral: we have many opportunities throughout the week for worship in community, and we shall be developing and offering new and different opportunities in the coming months.

We do encourage you to take stock of your habits of corporate and personal devotion and worship and ask yourself how you might take another step, either in your understanding of worship and how it helps you, or in other ways, so you become more keenly aware of the ways that worship and devotion can bring you closer to God. In our Christian tradition, we have always said that, after worship, it is study (reading, discussing, thinking) that can provide the gateway into deeper relationship with God. This is a value that we share with our Jewish and Muslim sisters and brothers, who also value study as a spiritual practice. And of course the primary text for us is the Bible. We hear the Bible in our worship, and we read

it as part of our daily devotions. The Scriptures remain the greatest window into God that has been given to us, and we are called to be “Bible-shaped” people, whose hearts and vision for the world and our understanding of who God is, have been shaped by an ongoing, daily, disciplined, informed engagement with the testimony of the Bible.

We shall be spending time this year studying the Scriptures as a way of learning to live a deeper life with the living God. The presence over this next year of The Saint John’s Bible in our Sunday worship and in our times of study will be the most visible sign to us of the centrality of the Scriptures in our lives. My hope and prayer is not only that we read the Bible more, but also that our lives, and the life of this Christian community, will be changed by this engagement. The Bible is not just interesting, it is life-changing.

We grow deeper in our life with the living God, too, when we do what Jesus does, when we conform our own lives to the pattern of the way in which Jesus lived. Jesus was unique because he allowed nothing to get between his own life, words, and actions and the life of God the Father. They were one. This is our vocation as well: our daily goal is so to live that the values and judgments of God are our values and judgments. Jesus embodied the Father’s life so completely, and in this way he showed us the way to live. We are to love goodness, to turn toward goodness, as surely as the needle turns to the pole on a compass. We are to grow in the virtues, and to give ourselves to the struggle to do just that. It is not an easy thing to do, and much within ourselves and in our society conspires against us. But God has promised that God will give us the grace and the strength to do this.

Let us make this year an intentional one of accomplishing what RenewalWorks has shown us, that we long to live a deeper life with the living God. There is no better work.

Old&New

by Mother Elizabeth Marie Melchionna

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n writing for the Open Door this month, we were invited to reflect on a passage of scripture from the Gospel of Matthew 13:52: “And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old’” (NRSV). In The Saint John’s Bible, in its craftsmanship and content, we have a dynamic confluence of new and old treasures.

There are two versions of The Saint John’s Bible, the original, written on vellum, and the Heritage Edition, of which we host volume 1 (The Gospels and Acts) of a seven-volume set, printed and embossed on cotton paper. In the vellum edition, the craft traces back to ancient times in which the vellum, or calfskins, were prepared by soaking them in lime. Then they were dried, scraped or “scrutched,” and sanded smooth. The final product provided nearly 300 pages of vellum to receive the 1,150 pages of text and illumination. Six calligraphers labored over the script, using hand-cut quills made from the largest goose feathers, called “primaries.” Turkey or swan quills were used for heavier letters.

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The pigment applied to the vellum came from traditional and sometimes quite old sources. The black ink used for the bulk of the script came from China from ink made in the 1870s. And the brilliant colors in 160 images in The Saint John’s Bible were created by using vermillion, lapis lazuli, and other ground pigments that were then mixed with egg yolk and water and applied with brushes. Gold leaf truly illuminates the manuscript. Human breath applied through a bamboo tube activates the gesso, or gluebinding agent, and the gold leaf is then burnished.

These ancient techniques met the modern world in multiple ways in the making of The Saint John’s Bible.

One was in the way decisions were made about just what would be depicted in the artistic images. Fr. Michael Patella, OSB, who will be joining us for a lecture at Saint John’s in January 2015, led the Committee for Illumination and Text (CIT). He selected the images and provided the theological oversight for The Saint John’s Bible. The committee consisted of artists, medievalists, theologians, biblical scholars, and art historians. This community chose a contemporary translation of biblical text, the New Revised Standard

Version (NRSV). They also chose to privilege images of women and those customarily on the margins of society, as well as not to depict God the Father in human form. Modern technologies such as email and shipping by air kept calligraphers and artists connected as they sent sheets of vellum back and forth between Wales and the United States. Sometimes technology itself made it into the images. For instance, there is one image in which the double helix of a strand of DNA appears. In a frontispiece to the Psalms, the images of sound waves generated by different religious traditions praying were worked into the art. Old and new meeting indeed!

The Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible is another feat of the ancient meeting modern technology. The beautiful calligraphy and images on vellum were transferred in ultra-high resolution by Wayne Torborg, the Director of Digital Collections and Imaging at the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library. Then John Roberts Printing used an incredible color Heidelberg XL 105 ultraviolet offset lithography press to print The Heritage Edition. A team at McIntosh Embossing applied the gold, silver, and platinum treatments. And some of the illuminations were burnished by hand, bringing an old technique to a distinctly modern process. The Heritage Editions were bound by Roswell Bookbinding in Arizona, and the head and tail bands handsewn by a craftswoman in Pakistan.

Ancient and modern—treasures new and old—have come together, calling each of us to a new encounter with the word of God. How might the art of The Saint John’s Bible challenge us to forgo old or stagnant intrepretations of the Scriptures and engage fresh ideas? How might the ancient techniques used in the craftmanship of The Saint John’s Bible inspire us to relearn the crafts of the book arts—calligraphy, gilding, and bookbinding? Come and see!

Previous page: Eucharist, Donald Jackson, Copyright 2002, The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Current page: Psalms Frontispiece, Donald Jackson, Copyright 2004, The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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We celebrated our many ministries, and we thanked Kay Kotzelnick for her service as Dean’s Verger. We installed David Barr as the new Dean’s Verger and Tim Dunbar as the new Junior Warden.

We blessed new white vestments that have been given in thanksgiving for the Dean’s ministry, and we used the magnificent Saint John’s Bible in worship for the first time. Thanks to Will Roberts for making a beautiful case for the Bible, and to Mother Elizabeth Marie for making the Bible’s presence among us possible.

SAINT JOHN’S DAY RETROSPECT We began the program year with a wonderful celebration on Saint John’s Day in September. We welcomed the Suffragan Bishop of Haiti, Bishop Ogé Beauvoir, and his wife, Serette. Bishop Beauvoir encouraged us in the long traditions of our history to continue to be active in our mission to know Christ and to make Christ known, and he brought to us a glimpse of the life of his own Church in Haiti with its many joys and struggles.

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And then we had a glorious Block Party. So many people from our congregation and our neighborhood sat and ate together on the West Lawn. So many children played and enjoyed the outdoors. Heidi and Bryant Harris and Jack and Rae Denman, along with Father Charles and so many others, made this party possible by their vision and their hard work.

Once again we have been rounded up after the summer and pointed in the right direction for what promises to be a full and exciting year of ministry, learning, worship and service to others.

Baptism 101

by Father Jadon Hartsuff

Q: What exactly is Baptism in the Episcopal Church?

A: “Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us as his children and makes us members of Christ’s Body, the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of God.” Book of Common Prayer, page 858.

Many people think Baptism is primarily for babies, but that is just not so. Anyone who truly wishes to renounce evil, repent of sinfulness, and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior is invited to Baptism.

Q: How are Baptism and Holy Communion related?

A: Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist are often known as “the two great sacraments” because the Bible records how they were specifically instituted and practiced by Jesus himself.

When we are baptized, we are immediately invited to Holy Communion — there is no need to wait until a child is a certain age to participate in Holy Communion, although it is a custom for some, because there is nothing beyond Baptism that we do to become part of Christ’s Body.

Q: If I am an adult, how can I be baptized?

A: We usually baptize adults at the Great Vigil on Easter Eve, and our Catechumenate is the primary way we prepare adults for Baptism, Confirmation, and Renewal of Baptismal Vows. When adults are baptized, they are usually confirmed at the same time, and so a significant period of education and exploration is appropriate. If you would like to be baptized as an adult, come to Catechumenate! More information can be found at sjcathedral.org/Catechumenate.

Q: How can I have my child baptized?

A: We baptize children throughout the year on several Sundays set aside specifically for this. When children are baptized we ask adults to make promises for them - to commit to raise them in Christian community and teach them the Faith (and/or bring them to teachers who will do so) until they are ready and willing to take on those promises themselves in Confirmation. Thus, before we can give any child a date for baptism, we must meet with the parents to determine their desire to make and uphold these commitments. If you would like your child to be baptized, the first step is to attend one of our regular “Baptism 101” meetings. Upcoming dates and registration information can be found at sjcathedral.org/ baptism.

Q: What if I have more questions?

A: Father Jadon coordinates our ministries of “Emerging Faith” that support Baptism, Confirmation, Reception, and Renewal for all ages. You can reach him at Jadon@sjcathedral.org or at 303.577.7732.

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Report

by Mother Elizabeth Marie Melchionna

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n Sunday August 31, after both the 8:00 am and 10:00 am services, members of the RenewalWorks Committee, along with Father Scott Gunn, Executive Director of Forward Movement, made a presentation to the congregation on the data they received from the RenewalWorks Inventory. Also presented on Sunday were some of the recommended shifts in programs and emphases to meet needs identified by the RenewalWorks data. Saint John’s will see several of these shifts in program emphasis this fall.

The RenewalWorks Inventory is an Episcopal planning tool that provides a process for: • Assessing the spiritual vitality of a congregation •

Training a task force of congregational leaders to interpret the results

• Examining the life of congregations in light of the survey results to determine how better to meet congregants’ spiritual needs •

Challenging the congregation to support its spiritual health through practices such as regular worship, Bible reading, personal prayer, and service to people in need.

In February 2014, our RenewalWorks inventory went live, and we had an incredible response rate of more than 51%. (Response rates for large congregations average only 20%.)

What did we learn from the data?

We learned that we are a spiritually young congregation.

Let me explain. The spiritual continuum used by RenewalWorks has four segments ranging from Explore and Grow, which fall at the youthful start of the continuum, to the more mature segments, Deepen and

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Center. 19% of our congregation responded that they were “exploring a life with God,” while more than half the respondents (58%) reported that they were “growing a life with God.” Those who replied that they were “deepening their life with God” comprise 19% of the respondents at Saint John’s. Parishioners who reported that God was “the center of their lives” constituted 4% of the congregants who responded.

In other words, 77% of our congregation is in the first two stages of faith, which gives us a great opportunity to support parishioners in going deeper in their lives with God. Another measurement that RenewalWorks uses to gauge spiritual vitality is that of 12 different spiritual beliefs and attitudes. The percentage of people who “strongly agreed” with these “spiritually vital” beliefs and attitudes was below the Episcopal church norm in 9 of the 12 categories. The attitude of “Giving Away My Life” (which RenewalWorks defines as “I am willing to risk everything that is important in my life for Jesus Christ”) is the single greatest indicator of spiritual health. Ten percent of our congregation strongly agreed with this statement.

The parish expressed that they were dissatisfied with the following statements regarding their church experience: •

Helping me feel like I belong

•

Helping me in my time of emotional need

•

Church leaders modeling and reinforcing how to grow spiritually

•

Prioritizing my spiritual growth over my church membership

•

Church leaders being authentic about their own struggles

The parish expressed that they were satisfied with, and the church is doing well, the following: •

Providing liturgy and music that feeds my spirit

•

Encouraging me to be respectful and welcoming to people of other faith traditions

•

Providing liturgy that encourages encounter with God in worship

•

Providing worship that is challenging and thoughtprovoking

•

Engaging me in the Sacraments in ways that help me grow spiritually

Meeting five times over a period of four months, the committee analyzed the RenewalWorks data and made recommendations for shifts at Saint John’s in response to the areas of evident need.

Our broad category for the recommendations was that of Spiritual Growth, with expressions in four categories: •

Outreach

•

Large groups

•

Small groups

•

Personal spiritual practices

We have already begun to introduce changes to our common life in response to the RenewalWorks data.

Our All-Parish Weekend focused on the subject of prayer, offering sessions on Prayerbook Spirituality, Visio Divina, and our Hymnody as Prayer. We are welcoming the Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible into our midst for the coming year in an effort to help parishioners encounter the Holy Scriptures in a creative and imaginative manner. We are focusing our adult formation on encountering the Bible through the use of The Story at the Sunday morning forum and of the Seeing the Word study of the images of The Saint John’s Bible on Cathedral Nite and Sunday evenings. We are in process of developing daily prayer online that is easily accessible and formatted for mobile devices in line with what we offer each morning and evening in Saint Martin’s Chapel.

As we continue to introduce change in the coming year in response to the RenewalWorks data, we will tell you about it here and be available, as always, to take and answer your questions, too.

In the meantime, I would like to invite us all to express our deep gratitude to the members of the RenewalWorks Committee for their diligence in supporting us in becoming more faithful disciples: Andrew Britton (Chair), Chris Alexander, Joan Barker, David Barr, Ashley Bracken, Megan Bradley, Sophia Burris, John Chenier, Amy Davis, Jack Denman, Everett Engstrom, David Grey, Leigh Grinstead, Jennifer Harrelson, Heidi Harris, Seth Kent, John Lake, Eric Lazzari, Leah Lazzari, Tyler Mahan, Carolyn McCormick, Mike Orr, Brian O’Shea, Eileen Rizzo, and Sue Sweeny.

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WORSHIP & SPIRITUAL GROWTH As we respond together to the RenewalWorks inventory that we participated in this past spring, we have found a shared hunger for meaning, for a place to learn, to connect with others and share their stories, and for support at turning points in our lives.

We offer many educational and spiritual activities on Sunday and during the week; mornings, afternoons, and evenings.

We are centered around prayer and worship. In addition to our central worship, classes, groups, and programs help us to grow together and respond in the world with love, compassion, and respect. We seek to live as a true community in Christ, transformed and empowered through our individual formation and our work together.

WEEKDAY WORSHIP

SPIRITUAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

Saint John’s Cathedral is committed to a daily life of prayer and worship. Pausing to pray at fixed hours of the day is an ancient spiritual practice, and Episcopalians have long been especially devoted to what are called the “Daily Offices of Morning and Evening Prayer,” thus establishing a pattern of beginning and ending each day by turning to God in prayer.

WEDNESDAYS/CATHEDRAL NITE

In addition to Morning and Evening Prayer, join us any weekday at 5:30 pm in Saint Martin’s Chapel for the Holy Eucharist. There is also a Eucharist on Wednesdays at 7:00 am. This is an intimate time of prayer, reflection, and focus on the Eucharist, using the Book of Common Prayer. Consider attending these weekday services as part of your regular prayer life and a way to become more familiar with how the Book of Common Prayer is used in our prayer life and common worship.

Saint Martin’s Chapel, Monday through Friday Morning Prayer - 8:30 am, Weekdays Evening Prayer - 5:00 pm, Weekdays The Holy Eucharist - 5:30 pm, Weekdays The Holy Eucharist - 7:00 am, Wednesdays

Seeing the Word A program designed especially around The Saint John’s Bible—in worship, prayer, and study to inspire our spiritual imaginations and creativity.

More information on following page

Catechumenate A community of learning for all who are seeking a closer connection with God and who want to explore the faith, life, and tradition of the Church.

More information on page 4

SUNDAY MORNINGS The Story A group study centered around an accessible, simply written book that is an adaptation of the Bible.

Designed to provide a foundation of biblical history and familiarity with the books of the Bible, this group study will also explore God’s relationship with humanity in a linear, easy-to-understand narrative.

More information on page 5

SUNDAY EVENINGS Seeing the Word

More information on following page

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Seeing the Word

by Mother Elizabeth Marie Melchionna

B

eginning this fall, for an entire year, Saint John’s Cathedral will be host to a volume of The Saint John’s Bible, the first handwritten, illuminated bible to be commissioned by a Benedictine abbey since the advent of the printing press more than 500 years ago. Saint John’s Abbey and College, in Collegeville, Minnesota, commissioned the Bible to celebrate the new millennium. We shall be using Seeing the Word—a program of study designed especially around The Saint John’s Bible—in worship, prayer, and study to incite our spiritual imaginations and creativity.

Seeing the Word employs visio divina, a spiritual practice closely related to lectio divina, or “divine reading.” Seeing the Word teaches the practice of divine seeing, which uses the sense of sight and the illuminations of The Saint John’s Bible in conjunction with the handwritten words of Scripture to encounter God. For instance, the session on the parable of the Sower and the Seed (Mark 4:1–9) brings together the scripture passage, written reflections on the passage, and the illumination of the Sower from The Saint John’s Bible crafted by artist Aidan Hart.

I took part in a session of Seeing the Word while visiting Saint John’s College, and was taught to use visio divina with John 20:11–18, a passage of scripture I have read perhaps a hundred times. It is the story of Mary Magdalene encountering the risen Christ in the garden, and mistaking him for the gardener, until he called her by name. And yet when this passage was paired with the illumination from The Saint John’s Bible, I found myself encountering this passage and the people in the story in an entirely new way. What did it say about Christ’s divinity, about his divine relationship to humanity, that Mary Magdalene’s hands are bathed in the golden glow from Christ’s halo? Is his divinity reflected in her? Or is Mary being altered by her encounter with the divine? And what does that mean for my own encounters with God? Seeing the Word will be offered twice a week throughout the year: on Wednesday evenings at Cathedral Nite and on Sunday evenings after the Wilderness. I hope each of you will allow yourselves the opportunity to encounter the Holy Scriptures in this new and dynamic way.

Photos courtesy of Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota. 2014

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Catechumenate: Downloading Faith, in Community

by Father Jadon Hartsuff

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or many years at Saint John’s, newer members of the Cathedral community have set aside nine months of their Wednesday evenings to gather into a community of learning called the Catechumenate (kat-eh-QUE-men-et).

Often these newer members are joined by others who have been part of either the Cathedral or the Episcopal Church for some time and now wish to renew and refresh both their adult knowledge and understanding of the Faith as well as their own Baptismal commitments.

respectively, “down” and “sound.”

Catechumens (those participating in the catechumenate) are in a decidedly receptive mode – being formed by a community of believers; hearing the traditions of the church from those who received them before. Joining the catechumenate is not only one individual’s act of exploration but it is also, as in a marathon, an act of the community’s continuation – of participating in the great echo of Christian faith and tradition begun millennia ago.

This kind of gathering is as old as Christianity itself and was, originally, the only way into the Faith. Today the Cathedral’s program fulfills a wide variety of needs and desires: of adults preparing for Baptism or exploring the particulars of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican tradition; of those preparing for Confirmation; of those already Confirmed who would like to renew their commitments through Reception or Reaffirmation; and of those embarking upon a season of inquiry not knowing for sure where an intentional period of reflection and learning will take them. All who are seeking a closer connection with God and who want to explore the tradition of the Church in community are welcome.

Whether you are already certain about an intention to be baptized, received into the Episcopal Church, or renewing your baptismal covenant, or you are simply interested in discerning how God is calling you to be in relationship with the Church at large or the Cathedral in particular – please do consider joining the Catechumenate this September, and do not hesitate to reach out to me by email or in person if you have any questions at jadon@sjcathedral.org.

The word catechumenate comes from the Greek words “kata” and “ekhos,” meaning,

Learn more online at sjcathedral.org/ Catechumenate.

Please consider joining the Catechumenate on Wednesday nights. Regular attendance is desired, though commitments to complete the program will not be expected until late November.

by Mike McCall

D

oes the Bible intimidate you? Do you find yourself wanting to understand the story of God’s relationship with humanity – of God’s relationship with you – but feel overwhelmed by the sheer immensity and complexity of this book?

Do you struggle to find the Book of Ruth, or 3 John?

Do you lack confidence in teasing out the meaning of a scripture passage?

If this describes you and you want to become more comfortable with the Scriptures – using your whole heart, mind, and soul – then consider attending The Story this coming year.

Over a period of about 30 weeks, Father Robert Hendrickson, other clergy, scholars, and lay leaders will guide us through an accessible, simply written book of the same name.

An adaptation of the Bible, The Story relates God’s relationship with God’s people as it is revealed in the Scriptures. It is written in modern, everyday English and its linear narrative describes God acting in human history, beginning with Adam and Eve in Genesis and ending with the Book of Revelation.

Its main character, of course, is God – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God’s love for us is its central theme.

Each week will build on the previous week, so it will be beneficial to attend each of the classes. The class, however, is open to all whenever you are able to come, as often as you are able to attend.

At the end of 30 weeks, you will have a better understanding of the last five thousand years of Jewish and Christian history. You will be able to open the Bible with confidence, engage in thoughtful debate, and whet your appetite for more knowledge.

You might even discover a deeper relationship with God – and even the real meaning of your life. Please join us Sunday Mornings, at 10:15 am, for The Story.

Books are available at the beginning of group meetings for $6 from the facilitator.

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I Wish

the Church

Were More Like a

Museum

by Father Robert Hendrickson

O

ne of my favorite places in New York City is the Metropolitan Museum. I particularly love the Byzantium and Islam exhibit, the Chinese printing exhibit, and, my favorite: Arms and Armor.

When I remember my visits to the Met, I am reminded that I have heard, more than a few times, deriders of one part of the Church or another say with some indignation: “The church is not a museum.” Also: “We need to act like a church and not a museum.” And: “We can either get involved or just become a museum.”

Each comparison invokes, as you may have noticed, the museum. The detractors mean to hold up for admiration, of course, their own vibrant, effervescent vision of the Church.

I get it. I too have been on middle school trips to museums not much like the Metropolitan. I have wandered through forlorn exhibits, aware of little more than my feet hurting. But I have also been to the Met, and so I find myself wishing the Church were more like a museum. Good museums generate excitement.

Museums bring us into contact with vital stories from human history, stories that impart knowledge about who we are even as they present treasures that appear stranded, just for us to gaze on, in the headlong rush of time.

A good museum presents us with objects that witness to us—so they present more than objects of studied, indifferent origin but of moments that actually speak to us. This conversation with the past, which is never past, forms us. It creates in us an understanding that this piece we gaze at is part of us. It continues to work in us well after we leave the place.

Great museums do what great churches do—they tell us who we are. With some training and study on our part, they can even form us for the future. The great museum attracts inquiry from the untrained eye, promising to reveal deeper complexities and patterns to those who would give themselves to study and meditation. One is drawn in to the great museum and its great question: Why do we matter?

In the Church, we pose the same urgent question: Why do we matter? Who will notice when we are not around? I believe the Church matters because we answer the deepest human need—a relationship with God. Churches and museums alike will be called to answer for themselves. Do they offer up factoids and propaganda or a transformative encounter with truth and wonder?

At their best, the museum and the Church offer counter-cultural understandings of the world. They

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offer narratives filled with treasures. They invite us into history and meaning and they are intent on pursuing the full flourishing of our nature. They are places for an encounter with essential truths that are difficult to hold on to and easy to mislay. Are they useful, these museums and churches? Yes, they are, if they understand, and communicate, their story and mission.

Not every museum offers this. Neither does every church.

The Church has, in many ways, been given a museum’s charge. We communicate identity, curate traditions, lead novices and elders alike through a journey, connect them across cultures and time, link themes and ideas across fields, and offer historical examples for the benefit of our futures. Beyond this, as the Church, we also offer a life-altering encounter with a living God whose power is always at work in the world.

The role of the Church is also descriptive, as we share the story of the arc of salvation. We are didactic, too, as we teach lessons pulled from thousands of years of tradition and theology. The Church is prescriptive, for we suggest treatments that understand the Christian at work in the world. It is also experiential, drawing the Christian into the life of God through the Sacraments and holy relationship.

Even as they answer individual questions about particular objects of interest, museums also portray the sweep of history. They give you a sense that the particular dwells within the whole. Docents answer questions and guide visitors to a deeper understanding of the transitions of space, place, and time. Great museums and great churches are grounded in history and tradition as well as in the real needs of their visitors, their communities, and their cities.

Great museums become voices and actors in their communities because they tell a living story. The American Visionary Art Museum has a mission to “expand the definition of a worthwhile life” by presenting and encouraging creativity in untraditional venues. The Denver Museum of Contemporary Art describes itself as an activator, content provider, and immediate research vehicle of culture in the making—a museum without a front door—a place for public engagement.

Great museums save us.

At the close of the 20th century, The New Yorker profiled the presiding judge at The Hague, a distinguished Italian jurist responsible for adjudicating the Sarajevo war crimes. The writer asked him how he kept his sanity

and his faith after “being daily obliged to gaze into such an appalling abyss .” The judge, the writer said, “replied with a smile. ‘You see, as often as possible I make my way over to the Mauritshuis museum, in the center of town, so as to spend a little time with the Vermeers.’”

Church, at her best, offers rescue and refuge and salvation. Church reminds us, and manifests, the beauty and mercy of God. Each person who enters the space has something to offer to our understanding of the whole life of the Church. As in a museum, the Church offers a curated meaning. But it is not the only meaning. Those who are new to her will have a host of enlivening insights.

We have to be ready. The Church cannot simply await visitors. We must invite them in, bring them along, and give them space so they may shape life and share meaning along with us. The Church is tasked with bringing forward and then nurturing tradition even as we are ever open to new insights and ideas—some of them may stand the test of time and others may fade away.

Great museums allow for this sort of interchange.

One fascinating thing about the Arms and Armor exhibit at the Metropolitan, for example, is its sense of movement. History is swirling about you and you can imagine hooves pounding and pennants fluttering. You see in the exhibit a progression of history as well and understand the link between one piece and the next.

You see the influences one era has on another until you glimpse patterns that resound in your own time.

This does not happen on its own. No speakers play the sounds of whinnying horses. Nor do actors in Olde English garb rail at peasants to stay off the road. We ourselves bring a vital presence to the encounter.

At the entrance of a historic house and museum in Upstate New York, a plaque reads: Welcome to the Matilda Joslyn Gage House, where Matilda Joslyn Gage lived with her husband, Henry, and their four children and carried out her work for social justice from 1854 to 1898. Rules of the house: 1) Check your dogma at the door; 2) Think for yourself. Please dialogue with us about the challenging ideas you will find within these walls and together let us envision the world we want to create. Please feel free to take photographs, pick up books, play with the toys, sit on the furniture, and most of all write on the walls!

O, that the Church were more like a museum.

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All Saints’ Day Eucharist

Saturday, November 1 at 11:00 am The Daughters of the King of the Diocese of Colorado will hold their annual conference at the Cathedral.

All Saints’ Sunday

Sunday, November 2 at 8:00, 9:00, 11:15 am, & 6:00 pm The Wilderness Please join us as we celebrate through worship the Communion of Saints.

Holy Baptism at the 9:00 and 11:15 am services.

All Souls’ Requiem

Sunday, November 2 at 3:00 pm This year, we are featuring Fauré’s Requiem with chamber orchestra and combined choirs of Saint John’s Cathedral and Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church.

If you have names of loved ones to remember, please submit remembrances online at sjcathedral.org/Necrology.

Important Instructions for Submitting Names Please ensure that you submit the full name of the person you want remembered. We cannot use initials, titles or other abbreviations. If we cannot identify the person adequately, we may not be able to include that name on the list. Please also ensure that we can contact you if we have any questions about a name.

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Library News After months of anticipation, we welcome the magnificent Heritage Edition, volume 1, of The Saint John’s Bible (Gospels and Acts). The Heritage Edition is a full-size fine art reproduction of the original, incorporating the use of a special cotton paper and printed in glowing colors that capture the texture, color, and light effects of the original.

Its presence here at Saint John’s prompts us to an increased appreciation of the many and varied works of religious art produced over the centuries. From the earliest Byzantine mosaics to the most recent architecture, sculpture, and stained glass, artists have been inspired to produce beautiful art for the glory of God. The Saint John’s Library has a great many colorful volumes depicting religious art through the ages, and they will be on display and available for checkout over the next several months. In addition, we have received four copies of The Art of The Saint John’s Bible: The Complete Reader’s Guide, by Susan Sink, an oblate of the Saint John’s Abbey. This guide includes reproductions of many of The Saint John’s Bible illuminations and takes the reader “through every section of the Bible, putting it in context for us and making clear how the art springs from and refers back to a salvific meaning.” These four copies will be on reserve at the Library desk and are available for a two-week checkout. Call the Cathedral Library at 303.577.7728 to reserve a copy.

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To accompany the Bible-study classes this year, the Library has a large selection of books about the Bible—from the 38 volumes of the Anchor Bible commentary to individual commentaries on all the books of the Old and New Testaments. Every student of the Bible, from novice to scholar, should have ample material for their own lectio divina.

As always, the Library is open on Sundays before and after services, and during the week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Cathedral Book Club The Cathedral Book Club will meet on Sunday, October 12 and Sunday, November 9 in the Wellspring Center following the 9:00 am service.

Our book for October is San Mateo’s Axe by Terry Fowler; a story set in the early days of the New Mexican frontier. Terry has a master of arts in religion from Iliff School of Theology and will be joining us for our discussion. Our book selection for November is My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk; a tale of intrigue from a distinguished Turkish writer.

If you would like to know more about the Book Club, please contact Susan Montgomery at whiston_17@ hotmail.com.

PROJECT ANGEL HEART Saturday, October 18, 12:00 to 3:00 pm 4950 Washington St., Denver 80216

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. . . .” Join your fellow Saint John’s parishioners at Project Angel Heart as we follow Jesus’ words, putting our faith into action by serving with this wonderful community partner. Project Angel Heart prepares and delivers nutritious, spirit-reviving meals to more than 900 of our neighbors, each week, who are living with a terminal illness. More than half the clients of Angel Heart are over the age of 60 and enduring end-stage renal disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, HIV/AIDS, and diabetes.

Join us as we learn more about this important meals-based ministry of service, We will be decorating meal bags and delivering meals. This intentionally intergenerational day of service is perfect for families with small children.

Following the informational tour, individuals and families are invited to decorate bags and/or deliver meals. Join Mother Liz Costello in this day of service by signing up online at sjcathedral.org/DayofService.

THE GIVING TREE Saturday, November 1, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm 1350 Washington St., Denver 80203

Join us in making fun ornaments for the Giving Tree! This family-friendly, artsy-crafty day of service is something the entire family will enjoy! We’ll have snacks on hand while Mother Liz Costello shares an informal and family-friendly presentation on why the Giving Tree matters and is a way for Christians to live out our faith. To sign up for this day of service, visit sjcathedral.org/DayofService.

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THE SAINT FRANCIS CENTER & THE WHAT IS THE SAINT FRANCIS CENTER? Founded 31 years ago by the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado, the Saint Francis Center is a day shelter that welcomes 700+ guests every day to its facility on Park Avenue and Curtis Street. There, those who are struggling with homelessness can find a place to take a shower, earn a trip to the clothing room, safely store their possessions, receive mail or phone calls, and visit with the full-time mental health provider. What’s more, guests find a place to be, to sit in peace, read, play cards, and rest in safety. In addition to these services, those who come to Saint Francis Center have access to employment opportunities and housing services, offering guests a sense of stability and hope.

Members of Saint John’s Cathedral are invited to be part of this significant ministry as a way of living out our baptismal vow, “to seek and serve Christ in all persons.” To sign up for this monthly volunteer opportunity, register online at sjcathedral.org/Serve/ SaintFrancisCenterServing.

“Each Sunday I am struck by how the Sunday’s readings and homilies provide us with encouragement for this ministry.

These guests at Saint John’s Cathedral, more often than not, dispel unkind myths about people who have no homes and they remind us of our mutual humanity.

There are many obstacles for our ladies to overcome, but there are also wonderful stories of success.”

— Becky Parnell, Saint John’s volunteer

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THE SAINT FRANCIS CENTER & THE WOMEN’S HOMELESS INITIATIVE At 8:30 am, 35+ women struggling with homelessness sign up for a lottery at the Saint Francis Center. If they are one of the twenty lucky ones, their name will be drawn, allowing them to have overnight shelter at a participating church.

At 5:00 pm, the twenty women whose names are drawn will be screened and offered overnight storage for their larger possessions. A Saint Francis Center employee will drive the women in two trips to the hosting church for the evening. There at the host church, each woman is offered a comfortable, freshly made cot, a hot meal, and the unconditional love of the volunteers.

They will get a meal and a good night’s sleep in peace and safety.

At 7:00 am, just after breakfast, van

by Tim aDunbar from the Saint Francis Center picks them up and returns them to Saint Francis Center, where they may take a shower, get clean clothes, and start their day afresh.

E WOMEN’S HOMELESS INITIATIVE

MONDAY NIGHT HOSPITALITY — WOMEN’S HOMELESS INITIATIVE The Women’s Homeless Initiative (WHI) is now in its third year. Three years ago, a collaborative effort was begun with the Saint Francis Center and Saint John’s Cathedral to help vulnerable women on the streets. Saint John’s Cathedral partnered with other churches of Capitol Hill United Ministries (CHUM) to offer overnight refuge for women.

As a hosting church, Saint John’s requires the commitment of a number of volunteers to offer overnight care for 20 women. Late Monday afternoon, a few early volunteers arrive to set up cots in Dagwell Hall. Others soon join them to begin preparations in the kitchen for a nutritious supper. In the early evening, still more volunteers arrive to provide companionship and attentive listening until bedtime at 9:00 pm. Three of the volunteers stay overnight with the women to watch over them and keep them safe. Early in the morning, our guests leave rested. They are given a brown-bag breakfast to take with them.

All members of Saint John’s Cathedral are invited to be part of this ministry and to get to know these women, who make Christ known to us. To volunteer, contact Sue Abbott at abbottsue@aol.com or Becky Parnell at rebeccaparnell@ comcast.net.

SAINT FRANCIS CENTER HALO GALA DINNER & AUCTION Saturday, October 18

5:30 pm at the Westin Westminster “Bringing together housing and opportunities.” Silent and live auction.

labor

For tickets, please visit sfcdenver.org. Also, for in-kind donations as auction items or for more information, please contact Nancy Wiseman at nancy_wiseman@comcast.net or Brittany Grace at bgrace1966@gmail.com.

“I was blessed to find the Saint Francis Center when I moved to Denver last year.

I do laundry, distribute mail, manage personal-property storage, charge cell phones, and take phone messages. Many of the women who participate in the WHI program take showers at Saint Francis Center on my watch. They are provided fresh linens and toiletries that help them maintain their dignity. While my heart hurts many times, I know God is smiling, which gives me the strength to give the best I can.”

— Brittany Grace, Saint John’s volunteer

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DREAM TOGETHER CONFERENCE

COME & SEE

by Father Charles LaFond

Then said he unto them, “Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.” — Matthew 13:52 KJV

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esus gathered people. That is what Jesus did more than anything else.

Jesus rarely preached at people. He spent time with those on the margins, and insisted that his sheep be fed. He was known to say “come and see,” over and over, so that crowds followed him to see the Son of Man unfurl in all his authentic glory in a startling, lifealtering way. Such selfless, authentic behavior changed world history. It can change us.

to love and to serve. The treasures that are “old and new” in our church—in any church—are those stories and experiences we share in humility and vulnerability.

Listening, learning, expressing hopes for what might transpire with this kind of fellowship and with this sort of leadership.

After more than a year of planning with internationally renowned leaders and our team at Saint John’s, whose commitment to community and humility are a regular inspiration to me, we are On October 11, the people After more than a year of planning with ready to open the doors of Saint John’s Cathedral will internationally renowned leaders and our to this new work we are convene. Those who join us undertaking together. Our team at Saint John’s, whose commitment conversations on October will be transformed by this to community and humility are a regular 11 will launch us on a threenew way of gathering. We will be given new tools to inspiration to me, we are ready to open year journey of learning imagine and express our the doors to this new work we are and discerning together. To longings. And we will learn what end? To build capacity undertaking together. ways of communicating— for sacred conversations so ways that will work in our that these conversations marriages, friendships, families, and workplaces. After become our Rule of Life, equipping the Church for the 50 years of my life, 25 of them in ministry, I can say work God means for us to do. that the Dream Together Conference promises to be the most hopeful event of which I have ever been a Join us for the Dream Together Conference on Saturday, part. More importantly, the gathering will be a new way October 11, at Saint John’s Cathedral by registering at forward for the Episcopal Church. Please plan to attend. sjcathedral.org/DreamTogether. You may register for a morning session, an afternoon session, or the full On October 11, we will gather as equals, share our day. Lunch will be served between the morning and hopes, and break bread together. What better image for afternoon sessions. the “Art of Hosting Meaningful Conversation” than the Last Supper—that story we tell time and again at the For more information on “leadership as convening,” Eucharist. Jesus gathered his friends, even the one who read Peter Block’s article at http://heartlandcircle. would betray him. Before the meal, by washing the blogs.com/aoc/Leadershipasconvening.pdf. feet of his friends and followers, Jesus modeled, one final time, how humility is central to leadership. Then he invited those gathered in the upper room to have supper with him and to remember they were gathered

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2014

DREAM TOGETHER

CONFERENCE

“When my grandchild walks down the aisle in 2044, what will Saint John’s look like?”

The Saint John’s Dream Together Conference.

Plan to attend on October 11, 2014.

Register at sjcathedral.org/DreamTogether.

CELEBRATING

by Father Charles LaFond Jesus twisting over the darkness is a classic Easter icon, and my favorite. If my home were on fire, this icon would be the one thing I would rescue. That is, once Kai, my black Labrador, was safely outside. I would go through fire for them both.

In this icon, Jesus wears creamy white vestments, twisting and gyrating his powerful and almost matronly hips (this icon scandalized the Byzantine court when it was unveiled in the sixth century) to heave Adam and Eve—all of humanity—out of the slumber of death. The saints look on—at his left and at his right.

I am preparing to make my pledge to the life of our church this September. I will invest in the spiritual community where I have made my home. My pledge means I need to economize in other areas of my life.

But making this gift to Saint John’s is, for me, the financial version of saying the Creed. My pledge is not the same as membership dues, nor is it a lucky charm or a 52-week concert fee. My pledge is an outward and visible sign of gratitude for being alive.

It is the commitment I make as I do my part, locally, to help God’s Kingdom unfurl in the cosmos. How do we do such big work as helping God’s kingdom unfurl? We do our part, working with each other, in our landlocked little city, on this small, blue, watery planet.

“Over the next few weeks we will celebrate together. We will engage the metaphor of cream, the theology of bounty, and express gratitude for the richness of our lives.”

Years ago, when only a guest at the Cathedral, I preached a stewardship sermon about my garden: One summer day I took a friend on a tour of my New Hampshire farm. She ooohed and ahhhed over a summer squash, and though my impulse was to pick it for her to take home, something inside me sputtered, crackled, chilled, hissed and withdrew. “I had a poor crop,” a voice in my head said. That squash was the only one I could see. So I smiled, rather too sweetly, demurred rather too lugubriously, and we moved on.

I did not give her my squash.

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GRATITUDE AND BOUNTY The next day I was playing with my dog Kai, and his ball went into the garden. Searching for it among the squash plants, I lifted leaves and found six huge squash, more than I could possibly eat. I could have shared. I had chosen not to do so.

Our pledge is not about giving to the church. Our pledge is about being who we were designed to be, trusting that we will have enough and giving some away to God through the church in gratitude for our very lives. To practice giving is to practice gratitude.

Since we will all one day die, this practice is essential for human wellness and is the first essential step into resurrection of life.

Over the next few weeks we will celebrate together.

We will engage the metaphor of cream, the theology of bounty, and express gratitude for the richness of our lives.

I felt I was looking upon one of the fairy godmothers from the Cinderella book of my childhood. And she reminded me of what I imagine God to look like.

I would look at the heavily-laden scone and the massive cup of tea and then at the love she conveyed—from her plump hand that held my own, to her smile and her bright eyes—and I realized I was grateful and, yes, even happy. I would then toddle off to my toll hut where I collected tolls from passing cars visiting the Devon coast and played hymns on my boombox. At three in the afternoon, my Devonshire fairy godmother would bring me a tray—with another cream tea.

My beloved friends, we have a lot of good work to do in Denver and around the world as a faith community. For decades we have relied on an endowment that has robbed many of us of our own generous impulse. But now is the time to invest in God’s ministry through our church.

“Our pledge is not about giving to the church.

Our pledge is about being who we were designed to be, trusting that we will have enough and giving some away to God through the church in gratitude for our very lives. ”

This summer I survived a brutal, head-on encounter with a clanging street car in a city far away. Never before have I been more aware of the beauty of life, the power of being part of a congregation that loves me, and the importance of gratitude for what one has—gratitude; which is in no way diminished by life’s very real suffering.

When I pour cream into my coffee (or milk into my tea) in the morning, I am reminded of the richness and the bounty in my life. The cream reminds me of the glossy cows near my New Hampshire farm, the fat cows on my parents’ farm in Quebec, and the cows I milked when I lived in England to begin my ministry.

I remember that metal rack of milk bottles. By late morning, I took the bottles filled with milk to Lee Abbey’s Tea Cottage on the north Devon coast. There the cook would pour off the thick yellow cream that had risen to the neck of each bottle. She would give me a scone, weighed down with clotted cream and strawberry jam, and a cup of tea—both the size of my head. She would take my hand in hers and ask me, in her thick Devonshire accent, “Are you happy?”

Times have changed. Spirituality has changed. The Church is changing—molting into something new. I have never seen a congregation with more potential for great kingdom-work, nor have I ever worked with such gifted lay and clergy leaders.

I look forward to celebrating gratitude and bounty with you this fall, and look forward to the great fun we will have together along the way.

Upcoming Events The Dream Together Conference October 11, 2014

Stewardship Celebration, Sinatra in the Sanctuary November 19, 2014

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The Legacy of Saint Francis— Putting Green Faith Into Green Action

by Father Jadon Hartsuff Every year in early October the Church celebrates one of its most beloved saints—Francis of Assisi. You hear his name often; we name and remember Francis at almost every Mass we celebrate because one of our worship spaces is named for him (our Children’s Chapel).

Francis is a particularly fitting saint for us to remember as we consider how God is calling us to find among our treasures “things both old and new” (Matthew 13:52). Francis lived in a tumultuous era of change and uncertainty. In response he called the Church to embrace a less worldly life. He founded new religious orders that grew into the worldwide orders of Franciscans that still inspire us today. He believed that nature itself was the mirror of God and called all creatures his brothers and sisters. Francis is known as the patron saint of the environment and of animals.

Many in our Cathedral community share Francis’ great passion for the earth and its creatures. Vestry

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member Tamra d’Estree and Building and Grounds committee member Kris Stoever are two who have led efforts surrounding these issues at the Cathedral for years. From community gardening programs and engaging issues of food justice to greening our waste stream and establishing a community of bees, there is much we are already doing—and Tamra and Kris would love to help get you involved.

The Cathedral’s waste stream is perhaps the most visible aspect of their work, and one that truly requires everyone’s help and participation.

“Waste stream” is the phrase that describes what happens to what we might otherwise call “trash.”

But, really, much of what we throw away isn’t trash at all. A large percentage of our waste can be reused, recycled, or composted—and so the Cathedral’s goal is to create as little landfill waste as possible by capturing as much of our waste in our compost and recycle bins. With a little effort at Saint John’s, we

can divert great quantities of waste from landfills so they can be repurposed into new, reusable products.

A great example of our producing less trash lies in the purchasing decisions we make about the napkins, cups, plates, stirrers, and utensils we use for coffee hour and other events at the Cathedral.

Did you know that everything we put out for these events is compostable? It’s true!

But putting out compostable items like these isn’t enough. We also need users of these items (you!) to place them into the appropriate compost bins everywhere throughout the Cathedral complex when finished, rather than using the trash or recycle bins. To help with this, we intentionally set out only compost bins (with green compostable liners) at large events—allowing us to capture nearly all our food waste, plates, cups, and cutlery in a pristine compost stream, later taken to a municipal composting operation.

This is but one example, and throughout the Cathedral campus there are different bins labeled to capture different waste streams.

We produce a significant stream of recyclables, for example, from glass, aluminum cans, and plastic water bottles. Instead of tossing these items into compost or landfill bins, please look for and use the recycle bins. All our efforts on behalf of a clean, green waste stream are for naught if we neglect these simple and thoughtful efforts.

As we begin a season of discernment around the future of our community, Saint Francis is an undoubtedly serendipitous companion.

Reflecting on his life and mission may well inspire us to hear something important about our own.

As we celebrate and remember him, let us commit ourselves to remember his mission and legacy not only on the one big day every year when we bring our pets to church for a blessing. Let us remember him every day—when we take a few extra steps to find the right waste bin or give a few hours to help grow healthy food for our neighbors—putting green faith into green action.

What is COMPOSTABLE at Saint John’s?

All food waste: leftovers, plate scrapings, meat, bones, fish, dairy products, baked goods, coffee grounds and filters, tea and used tea bags (cooking oil excepted) Food-soiled paper and paperboard: coffee cups, pizza boxes, milk cartons, napkins, damp paper towels, plates and trays, deli and microwaveable takeout containers, waxed cardboard and beverages boxes.

Corn-based cutlery and beverage cups (look for green markings): Saint John’s stocks only compostable cutlery and beverage cups; dispose of these in the green bins.

Plants, yard debris, and floral trimmings. Grass clippings should be left on lawns but may be composted, leaves, yard debris, spent flowers and floral waste from altar displays.

What is RECYCLABLE at Saint John’s?

Plastics 1–7, including all polystyrene (Styrofoam): water, juice, and soda bottles, deli trays, yogurt cups, milk jugs, butter and margarine tubs, liquid detergent and soap bottles, condiment bottles and peanut butter jars (rinsed as well as you can, please), coffee-cup lids.

Cans and food trays: aluminum cans, foil trays, pie and pastry plates (remove as much food residue as possible), and deli takeout containers.

Glass: food and beverage glass only (no votive glass or other nonfood-use glass) Steel and empty aerosol cans: aerosol cans must be empty.

Paper and paperboard: all office paper, newspaper, junk mail, opened mail, phone books, stationery, greeting cards, brochures, file folders, paper towel and toilet paper tubes, paper envelopes (plastic windows are ok), magazines, catalogs, boxes for cereal, pasta, tissues, beverages, food, soap, etc.

Cardboard: cut down and flatten all corrugated cardboard.

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GETTING REA DY FOR MUSIC

MUSIC

CAMP The Music Department held its inaugural Music Camp in August to kids ages 5-7. With a focus on singing in a choir setting, the camp introduced music fundamentals, lessons on violin and piano, a daily show-and-tell of musical instruments, and active listening to music. Here is Elam’s first-hand perspective on the camp, as a volunteer and active participant:

Remembering Music Camp

by Elam Fifer-Whiting

The Saint John’s Cathedral Music Department held a music camp August 18 – 22, 2014. There were 17 kids and there were many activities set up for the camp.

The kids arrived every morning at 9:00 am. They were happy and excited and the energy level in the room rose as more kids arrived. They were also very excited to get started with the morning.

There were 4 teachers leading various musical activities. Miss Lyn or Mr. Tappe led the campers in singing several songs in the morning. Some of the songs even had hand motions that the kids learned very quickly. At 9:30 am, the choir youth leaders escorted the children in their groups to the next activity. Some of the campers stayed with Miss Lyn to learn about

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music theory and by study the notes on the staff and their relationship to the keys on the piano. They also learned the names of the notes on the staff and about tempo. The kids and choir youth leader who went to Miss Carol’s class learned short songs on the piano.

She led them in psychical movement representing tempo for whole, half, quarter, and eightieth notes.

With gusto, the campers marched, skipped or clapped out the tempos and songs she taught them. Mrs. Carol also gave a piano lesson to one of the campers after the camp. Another group went to Mr. Ethan and Miss Alexandra’s class for introductory violin instruction.

There were real violins for campers to play. At the beginning of the week the sound was rough. By the end of the week everyone know how to get a good sound out of the violin. The groups changed teachers again at 10:00 am.

The campers worked hard and had a blast. The was a 30 minute recess where the kids played and ate a snack at 10:30 followed by “show-and-tell” at 11:00.

During “show-and-tell” a musician demonstrated an instrument for all the campers as they sat in the choir stalls in the Cathedral. Each day a musician described and played a cello, a bassoon, a violin, an organ, a cello duet, and a tuba. On the last day of camp, the children had a recital performance singing for their friends and family the songs they learned in camp.

The audience loved it.

The campers had a wonderful time. This camp is a good springboard into the children’s choir. For more information on joining the children’s choir, please contact Miss Lyn or Mr. Tappe at Saint John’s Cathedral.

For piano lessons with Miss Carol, please contact Miss Lyn at Lyn@sjcathedral.org. We look forward to next year’s music camp!

CATHEDRAL CHOIRS Fall is an exciting time to join the choir! Whether you are starting out at 5 years of age or are interested in singing in the adult choir, we would love to have you.

CHILDREN & YOUTH CHOIRS Saint Cecilia Girl Choir & Saint Nicolas Boy Choir are for grades 4 and up (or at the discretion of the Music Director). They rehearse on Mondays from 5:00 to 6:15 pm and on Wednesdays from 5:45 to 7:00 pm. These choirs sing weekly at the 9:00 am Sunday service.

Probationers are generally choristers in second and third grade. They rehearse from 5:00 to 6:15 pm on Mondays and 5:15 to 6:15 pm on Wednesdays. This choir sings weekly at the 9:00 am Sunday service.

Saint David Choir is for children age 5 through first grade. They rehearse from 5:15 to 5:55 pm on Wednesdays. This choir sings monthly at the 9:00 am Sunday service.

For more information about the Saint John’s Cathedral Choir School, visit sjcathedral.org/ Music or contact the Music Department staff with any questions at 303.577.7717 or email musicadmin@sjcathedral.org.

ADULT CHOIRS Saint John’s Parish Choir and Saint John’s Cathedral Choir are semi-professional ensembles for adults and advanced youth. These are both auditioned choirs. The Parish Choir provides music for the 9:00 am Sunday Eucharist and occasional Diocesan services; the Cathedral Choir provides music for the 11:15 am Eucharist, Evensong, and other special occasions throughout the year.

The Parish Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings from 6:45 to 8:30 pm. The Cathedral Choir rehearses from 7:00 to 9:30 pm. If you have experience singing in choirs, can read music, and are willing to commit to the choir schedule, please consider joining one of these groups. All volunteers start out in the Parish Choir and begin singing all the hymns and service music. Based on individual ability, newcomers join the choir, singing more complex material as familiarity with the repertoire and sight reading skills allow.

We are currently auditioning for additional staff singers. Please contact Stephen Tappe at 303.577.7727 or Tappe@sjcathedral.org to schedule an audition. For more information, please visit sjcathedral.org/Music.

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Healing a Hurting World Saint John’s Cathedral celebrates ERD’s 75th Anniversary

by Mother Liz Costello

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oin us as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD) —“Healing a Hurting World.” Episcopal Relief & Development seeks “to bring together the generosity of Episcopalians and others with the needs of the world.” Its goals are to “strengthen local churches and empower communities to fight poverty, hunger, and disease with sustainable, locally driven solutions.” ERD partners with more than 3 million people in roughly 40 countries.

To help celebrate this important anniversary, Saint John’s Cathedral will host ERD’s touring exhibition, hold a reception in honor of Bishop Robert O’Neill’s leadership as Chair of ERD’s Board of Directors, and celebrate “ERD Sunday” on October 5, 2014.

Open to the public from October 5–21 (Room 101), the anniversary exhibit will feature photographs showing ERD’s work across five continents. ERD’s four core program areas seek to: • • • •

alleviate hunger and improve food supply; create economic opportunities and strengthen communities; promote health and fight disease, and; respond to disasters and rebuild communities.

This exhibit tells the story of the people helped by ERD’s 75 years of work. In addition to viewing and learning about Episcopal Relief & Development through these iconic photographs and stories, visitors may take cards with prayers for those involved in ERD’s work.

As we prepare to host this exhibit, let us join Rob Radtke, President of the Episcopal Relief & Development, and pray the Collect for the human family: O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infects our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in the bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on the earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

—The Book of Common Prayer, p. 815

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Photograph by Mike Smith for Episcopal Relief & Development

TREASURES OLD AND NEW GODLY PLAY AND THE STOREHOUSE OF SCRIPTURE AND EXPERIENCE

by Kim McPherson

“And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’ Matthew 13:52

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t Saint John’s, Godly Play is a way to bring “treasures old and new” out of the storehouse that is scripture. Children delight in the new treasure of their experience with God’s word. They delight too in the ancient treasure that is scripture.

And the Godly Play teachers who offer these stories to our children do as the scribes in Matthew. They bring treasures “new and old” by drawing on the best of the Montessori tradition and ancient sources.

We know from brain research that things we hear and read, if unrehearsed and unconsolidated, often go into short-term memory. But the things we experience often go into our long-term memory — a storeroom of treasure holding a different kind of knowledge. With Godly Play, the ancient, treasured stories become new and meaningful narratives that help children to ponder the great questions we all face as we grow up — and older.

The stories relayed in Godly Play use hands-on materials, and resound with poetry and mystery.

Children learn to make the stories their own as they wonder together — about what they like and about what is important. The question, “I wonder where you are in the story?” or “what part is about you?” invites children to enter into the story so that it becomes part of their experience. And so “old treasure” becomes treasure for the children that is new — and newly their own.

And as our children grow, they can recall the stories they have learned in Godly Play and apply them to their struggles later on. At Cathedral Camp, the now-ancient story of the community of Jesus and his disciples becomes real. Our children gather at Cathedral Camp and receive the message that they are “good enough.” “You are good enough,” is essentially what Jesus told his disciples when he called to them to follow him. Experiencing community, the way we do at Cathedral Camp, is perhaps the greatest treasure of all. And it is how we welcome so many of our young people into the community that is Saint John’s Cathedral — and why they’ve decided to stay.

In a world where we can text emoticons to anyone with a mobile device, these stories give us a treasure of language — a language as ancient as the earliest Bible stories, and yet so fresh that it can guide us through dark times and lead us to stunning beauty and meaning.

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Welcome to Family Ministries at Saint John’s

5:

SJC Kids Pledge, Too! Kickoff Celebration. 10:15 am in Saint Francis Chapel. Helping to support all that we love about Saint John’s is one of the spiritual practices that all of us can be part of; and that includes our children. We’ll explore how belonging includes responding with generosity and creativity to God’s loving us. Parents are encouraged to attend, too!

1:

Baptism Preparation Class, 9:00 am in the Cathedral. To register, visit sjcathedral.org/baptism.

2:

Daylight Savings Time: Clocks turn back one hour at 2:00 am!

15:

Godly Play Commuter Core Training.

Learn about Godly Play! More information at dioco.org/christianformation.html.

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Sinatra in the Sanctuary Stewardship Celebration. The Nursery is open and children are welcome; please note that all ages are welcome to this celebration.

23:

Advent Preparation for all ages.

4:15 to 6:00 pm. Come to make an Advent wreath for your home and discover ways to find meaning in this busy season of getting ready for the coming of the Christ child. More info and registration at sjcathedral. org/AdventPrep.

Children come to us full of wonder and joy, and already knowing something about God. Our task is to nourish the seeds of God’s love that have already been sown, and to help our children find ways to strengthen their relationship with God throughout their lives. We do this through the stories of the Bible and our Church, by encouraging their wonder and helping them discover their deep joy, by welcoming them fully into the Saint John’s community and by involving them in all that we do. Our children are full members of Saint John’s Cathedral, and we cherish their presence here.

The goal of our youth program is to help our young people journey into adulthood experiencing the care of this community as they learn how to be the hands of Christ in the world. As they grow up, they also grow into ways of being involved, offering themselves to help others within and beyond this Cathedral and creating a circle of trust for one another.

Family Life eNewsletter

If you are new to Saint John’s, or if perhaps just haven’t found your way ‘in’ just yet, please do check the Family Life Newsletter this fall for invitations that we hope will help you to connect! Register to receive this weekly eNewsletter at sjcathedral.org/eNewsletters.

Your Chance to be Involved!

We depend on volunteers to work with our children and youth on Sundays and at other times, and we also need volunteers to help with a variety of projects. If you would like to get involved in any way, please contact Kim McPherson at 303.577.7729. Thank you!

Godly Play Commuter Core Training, Saturday, September 27.

One all-day training for teachers and anyone who would like to know about Godly Play. Register by calling Kim McPherson at 303.577.7729.

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Our nursery is a cheerful, safe and welcoming environment for our very youngest members, staffed by professional caregivers as well as volunteers. All are trained to ensure your child’s stay is safe in every way. Please check the website for more information or contact Kim McPherson at kim@sjcathedral.org.

Nursery Sunday Hours

8:30 am - 12:45 pm, ages 0-3 5:30 - 7:30 pm for The Wilderness, any age

Nursery Wednesday Hours 4:00 am - 9:00 pm, all ages

Sunday Christian Formation

9:00 am- Children’s Chapel (ages 3 & up) Saint Francis Chapel, 2nd floor Children are engaged during the first part of the service (the Liturgy of the Word) in very child-friendly fashion, including lesson, prayers, confession and music. Parents may drop off children or remain in Chapel with them. Chapel goers join their families in the Cathedral in time for Communion, and enter the front of the Cathedral on the East side. Children are invited to come forward at Communion to sit on the carpet and stairs.

10:15 am- Godly Play (Ages 3 - 3rd Grade) In Godly Play, we create a safe and beautiful space where children are deeply respected as they see, hear, and wonder about stories from the Bible or another part of our Episcopal tradition. Using hands-on materials and “wondering questions” to reflect on the story together, children then choose from a variety of materials—story materials, art supplies, building materials, books, silence materials—to make their own creative responses, and to help make the stories truly their own.

Prayers and a feast (snack) round out the session.

• • •

3-4 year olds: Preschool Godly Play, Room 101 K-1st Grades: Godly Play Class, Room 103 2nd-3rd Grades: Godly Play for Older Kids, Room 202

10:15 am - SOWhAT (4th - 5th Grade) Room 204 SOWhAT stands for: Stories, Outreach, Wonder, Arts, & Theology. At this age, children are ready for more…more insight, more activities, and more sophisticated art projects. In this year two, as the Saint John’s Illuminated Bible resides with us, these children will have a rare opportunity to explore what sacred space means, and how our own journeys are illuminated by the arts and our faith. *Note: No Christian Formation classes on November 30 due to the Thanksgiving Holiday

Wednesdays

4:15 – 5:10 pm, Room 103, for Ages 4 - 9. If you missed Sunday’s class, or if your child is a chorister and would like to come on Wednesdays, this time slot is perfect for you! Our Director of Religious Education, Kim McPherson, shares stories, wonders with the children, and invites them to respond to the stories of our tradition through play, art, and other experiences. (Younger children may stay in the nursery, and older children may be signed in to the nursery in advance by parents who wish to attend yoga classes. Choir members will be escorted to rehearsal following class.)

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Acolytes

Anyone in 4th-12th grades can be part of the Saint John’s Acolyte team. Training is provided so everyone knows just what to do and feels comfortable doing it. Join this team and experience worship in a new way. Please contact David Barr at DavidLBarr@msn.com for more information.

Volunteering

Would you like to help with chapel? Lead or greet and lend an extra pair of hands. Please contact Kim McPherson at 303.577.7729 or at Kim@sjcathedral.org.

As our children’s classes form, we’d like to organize some potluck suppers in several families’ homes. If you would like to host one for your child’s class, please contact Kim McPherson at kim@sjcatheral.org or 303.577.7729.

Sundays Middle School

10:15am Middle School Youth (6th-8th grades) first gather on Sunday for refreshments and time together to play games, chat, and engage in service to others. Our goal is to help these young teens begin to look critically at their day to day lives and decide what their greatest desire is for the best life that they can live. Called a Rule of Life, it is a helpful way for them to be serious about their faith and be able to talk about everything going on in their lives. This is a perfect time to begin the lifetime process of making choices that will help them live into their dream, and to see how their faith is at the heart of that dream. It’s all done with lots of activities, so it’s fun, too!

High School

10:15am Senior Youth (9-12th grades) gather for weekly teaching and conversation with Father Jadon. This is an opportunity for older youth to learn fundamental aspects of Anglican theology in an atmosphere that encourages them to confirm both what they believe and what they struggle with as they encounter the challenges of living as Christian teens. The weekly meetings complement a number of seasonal “away days” that allow for even greater depth of community and spiritual growth. *Note: No youth group meetings on November 30 due to the Thanksgiving Holiday

Serving in Worship

Our youth are part of worship, too: ushers, acolytes, readers, and chapel greeters. Contacts to get involved: Acolytes: David Barr, DavidLBarr@msn.com Ushers: Deanna White, Deanna_white1500@hotmail.com Readers: Billy Baker, BillyB@sjcathedral.org Chapel: Kim McPherson, Kim@sjcathedral.org

Youth Retreat: QUEST

October 10-12. 6th - 12th Graders will join with other Episcopal Churches in our Diocese for the fall youth retreat: QUEST, at Frontier Ranch in Buena Vista. Register at questcolorado.org!

Confirmation for Youth

Preparation for Confirmation happens during our High School Youth Group meetings on Sundays during the 10:15 am hour, from September through May, with Confirmation at the Easter Vigil, April 4, 2015. Youth who would like to be confirmed should regularly attend youth group for at least the entire school year of their Confirmation. Youth in our diocese may be confirmed at age 15. Please contact Father Jadon at jadon@sjcathedral.org for more information.

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1350 Washington Street Denver, Colorado 80203 sjcathedral.org

info@sjcathedral.org 303.831.7115