You Will Be My Witnesses

Yesterday, we commemorated the Feast of the Ascension, remembering that 40 days after his Resurrection, Jesus ascended in bodily form to be with the Father in heaven. The Book of Acts tells us that, just as Jesus is about to ascend, he says to his disciples: “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth” (1:8). Ascension Day reminds us that we are not powerless, and that we are now Jesus Christ’s living witnesses on earth, filled with Christ’s power to do God’s work.

In the wake of the recent violent, horrific attacks on both the students and faculty of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, and on the customers and staff of the Tops Supermarket in Buffalo, New York, we are not left powerless. First, we pray. On Wednesday, The Rev. Dr. Andrew Scanlon-Holmes from our neighbor Roberts Park United Methodist Church joined me at our noonday service, where we jointly offered a liturgy of lament for all those who have died. In his sermon, Andrew reminded us that God is with us in this moment, but that our thoughts and prayers are not enough. God calls us to use our power.

I reached out to the offices of our US Senators Todd Young and Mike Braun after our worship, asking them to support legislation that will restrict who can own firearms, require background checks, eliminate loopholes, tighten laws against gun trafficking, require gun safety training, fund gun violence prevention programs, and address gun violence as a public health crisis. These are long-held positions by the Episcopal Church that are rooted in our Baptismal Covenant’s call to us to “seek and serve Christ in all persons” and to “respect the dignity of every human being.” Senators Young and Braun could make a difference in effecting common sense gun legislation, but they need to hear from us, from you and me, the people who empower them. You can reach their offices by calling the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 or email them using the links here.

Jesus calls us as his disciples, telling us we are his witnesses. What will our witness be?

—The Very Rev. Gray Lesesne, D. Min.

Monument Circle Closed

SUNDAY, MAY 29

Monument Circle is scheduled to be closed to all vehicular traffic beginning at 3 p.m. on Saturday and through noon on Monday for the Gumball 3000, a car rally traveling from Toronto to Miami. See 125+ cars on your way to church!

MORE ABOUT GUMBALL 3000

CCC Closed for Memorial Day

MONDAY, MAY 30

The Cathedral office will be closed on Memorial Day. All CCC activities, including online worship, will take a break to allow ministry leaders to refresh themselves for their continued ministry.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Indy Strawberry Festival

The Cathedral Women’s 56th Annual Strawberry Festival will take place on Thursday, June 9, on Monument Circle and volunteers are needed to help make it happen! Proceeds from the sale of our homemade shortcake with “the Works” are given to agencies doing good work in our community. Please consider taking a shift to scoop berries, run ice cream buckets to lines, or cashier (you need a smartphone with unlimited data for this one)! You’ll get a free t-shirt, a coupon for a free shortcake, and depending on the amount of time you volunteer, a sack lunch. Please consider offering your time and talent to this beloved community event!

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Summer Daily Prayer Schedule

MONDAY, JUNE 6-FRIDAY, SEPT. 2

We look forward to leading Morning and Evening Prayer online via Facebook Live throughout the summer. Morning Prayer begins at 8:30 a.m. and Evening Prayer at 5:30 p.m. Noon Eucharist will be offered as regularly scheduled, in-person Monday-Friday.

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Presiding Bishop Michael Curry to make CCC stop during Indy Dio Visitation!

SUNDAY, JUNE 5, AT 1PM

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will be with us for the celebration of the Feast of Pentecost! This service will be bilingual, and we are excited to share with him the vibrant warmth and rhythms of our Ministerio Hispano and First Sunday of the Month Fiesta tradition!

Our 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. services will go on as regularly scheduled. Registration is not required for the 1 p.m. service but encouraged for visitors of CCC.

We are honored to be a part of the Presiding Bishop’s visitation weekend as he joins Bishop Jennifer in various spaces within the Diocese of Indianapolis on June 4-5. A full listing of the Presiding Bishop’s schedule can be found here. If you would like to volunteer during the Presiding Bishop’s visit, please email Kim Christopher at christopher@indydio.org.

RSVP FOR WORSHIP SERVICE AND FIESTA

RSVP FOR FIESTA ONLY

Don’t forget to wear red on the Feast of Pentecost!

SUNDAY, JUNE 5

On Pentecost Sunday, we celebrate that God did not leave us without God’s own Spirit to comfort and guide us before Jesus’ ascension. Be with us and don your favorite red outfit to celebrate and signify the fire and work of the Holy Spirit!

Indy Pride Festival 2022

SATURDAY, JUNE 11

The Diocese of Indianapolis once again will have a presence in the Indy Pride Parade on Massachusetts Avenue in downtown Indianapolis, and at the Pride Festival at Military Park. Volunteers are needed to march in the parade, staff the diocesan booth at the festival, or both. Registration is required to march in the parade or volunteer for a booth shift.

Participation in the parade is free of charge. Tickets are required for the festival and are available for advance purchase. Volunteers who sign up for a one-hour shift at the IndyDio booth at the festival will receive a free ticket.

Participants are encouraged to increase our visibility by wearing their IndyDio Pride t-shirts or other apparel from their congregations.

Please contact Brendan O’Sullivan-Hale with questions.

VOLUNTEER TO STAFF THE BOOTH

MARCH IN THE PARADE

Trip to Underground Railroad Freedom Center and Holocaust Museum in Cincinnati

SATURDAY, JUNE 25, FROM 8AM-6:30PM

CCC will take a day trip to Cincinnati to explore the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Through permanent and traveling exhibits, the NURFC shares the stories of Freedom’s heroes, from the era of the Underground Railroad to contemporary times, challenging and inspiring us all. After lunch together at a local restaurant, we tour the Nancy and David Wolf Holocaust and Humanity Center. The cost for this trip is $20 and includes transportation in an ADA coach and fees for both museums. Participants will pay for their own lunches. We will leave Christ Church Cathedral 8 a.m. and return around 6:30 p.m. There is space for 50 participants.

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Upcoming Communications Deadlines

DEADLINE: THURSDAY, JUNE 9

Given staff travel schedules this summer, we have made adjustments to communications deadlines.

If you would like anything promoted in June — in Good Word, in Sunday’s announcements, or on social media, etc. — you should complete a communications request by Thursday, June 9. For July promotions, submit your request no later than Tuesday, July 12.