Jesus: The Great I Am

This Sunday, we will begin a four-week long journey through the Gospel of John’s Chapter 6, which is known among Biblical scholars as “Jesus’ Discourse on the Bread of Life.” We’ll first hear Jesus teach his disciples in John 6:35 this Sunday: “I am the Bread of Life.” What follows is his four-week “riff” on the subject. (Clearly, his disciples weren’t getting it; hence the need for repetition.)

These “I am” statements are particular to the Gospel of John. Others include:

• “I am the living bread that came down from heaven.” (6:51)
• “I am the light of the world.” (8:32; 9:5)
• “I am the good shepherd.” (10:11, 14)

For Jesus, these “I am” statements are more than just personal descriptors. They are also connecting us back to the mystery and power and transcendence of God that Moses first encounters at the burning bush in Exodus 3:14. Remember God’s response when Moses asks what God’s name is? “I am who I am,” replies Yahweh. Jesus wants us to experience in him both the divine and the human, the intertwining of the holy and the human, the sacred and the secular. Jesus wants us to experience in him a God who is both close enough to us to give us our daily bread, and provide us spiritual nourishment forever.

Remember, Renew, Rise: Liturgy and Music

SUNDAYS, AUGUST 1 AND 8

More than anything, our worship defines us as Episcopalians. The ritual of our liturgies has inspired and comforted individuals, families, and the community in times of joy and in times of tragedy since this church was built. But that isn’t to say that our worship services are identical to those in 1957 or 1857. The church—and how we engage with the divine—changes with every generation. We want to know which parts of our liturgy are most uplifting, inspiring, and comforting to you, and we also want to hear your ideas about how our liturgy can bring you and our community closer to the divine presence of God.

Join us in person after each service this Sunday, August 1, or via Zoom on Monday, August 2, to engage in this vital discussion of who we are and who we might become.

Next week, our last of these discernment conversations will focus on the Cathedral’s music ministry.

If you can’t join us on Sunday, we hope you’ll tune into our bilingual Zoom conversation on Monday at 7 pm. RSVP by Saturday, July 31.

Advanced registration is required only for the Zoom meetings. Register by the Saturday before the meeting.

REGISTER FOR AUGUST 2 ZOOM
REGISTER FOR AUGUST 9 ZOOM

Implicit Bias Workshop

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7 FROM 9AM TO 1PM

Are you ready to take the next step in building an anti-racist, multicultural community of faith? We invite you to take part in an in-person Implicit Bias Workshop facilitated by leaders from the Peace Learning Center. They will lead us in self-exploration, self-reflection and discussion. There is no charge and the workshop is open to all people, including those who are not members of CCC. The training will be offered in both English and Spanish.

Implicit bias is something we all have. This workshop examines what it is, how it differs from overt bias, how to recognize our own, and how we move past bias through action. As we live into our congregation’s mission of widening the circle of God’s embrace, this workshop will offer each of us practical tools to continue the lifelong journey of dismantling systemic racism.

REGISTER BY AUGUST 2

National Night Out Listening Station

SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 FROM 5PM TO 6:30PM

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes public safety accountability and neighborhood camaraderie. As part of this event, our Discernment Committee will host a listening station on our lawn and take suggestions from the community on what they are expecting and hoping from us. Refreshments will be served as we host our downtown neighbors for this event.

LEARN MORE 

CCC Seeking Canon for Spiritual Formation

Do you have a passion for spiritual formation? We’re looking for you!  The Canon for Spiritual Formation will work to renew and revitalize all aspects of the Cathedral’s formation and educational ministries, including our offerings for children, youth, and adults. In a post-COVID world, our new Canon is in a unique position to help us entirely reimagine formation in ways that are intergenerational, intercultural, bilingual, dynamic, experiential, and not necessarily experienced in a traditional classroom setting. This is a non-ordained position.

LEARN MORE AND APPLY BY AUGUST 13

Family Fun: Pet Food Pantry and Ice Cream Party

SATURDAY AUGUST 14 AT 10AM

Join us in volunteering at the Pet Food Pantry at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Fishers. This unique establishment provides necessary supplies to anyone struggling to provide for their family pets. Our crew will volunteer to staff the Stable Pet Food Pantry before we pray the labyrinth and enjoy the beautiful gardens and playground. We’ll also enjoy an ice cream party to celebrate the start of school!

All ages are welcome! Parents should plan to supervise their children during the event. Masks and social distancing are required regardless of vaccination status.

REGISTER NOW
MORE FAMILY EVENTS

CCC Concerts | Music in Bloom

SATURDAY, AUGUST 14 AT 6:30PM

The bloom is on! Come and experience a world of music born right here in Indiana and the Midwest. Whether you’re a classical music buff or new to musical performance, the innovative and engaging concert experiences of Music in Bloom, a 4-day music festival, deliver interactive opportunities for all ages.

Music in Bloom 2021 welcomes vocalist Amy Petrongelli, saxophonist Nick Zoulek, cellist Horacio Contreras, pianist Clare Longendyke, and percussionist Matthew Coley in performances that celebrate the diversity of people, cultures, and musical aesthetics within the city of Indianapolis, the state of Indiana, and the entire Midwest Region.

All are welcome to this FREE concert!

LEARN MORE

Music Ministry Needs Ushers

CCC’s music ministry has long been an integral part of our identity. Even if you don’t sing or play an instrument, you can be part of the music ministry. We have nine in-person events scheduled for the 2021-22 concert series, and we need ushers! You can volunteer for as many or as few concerts as you like. Learn more about the upcoming concerts at www.cccindy.org.

For more information about ushering, contact Musical Arts Intern Claudia Gage at ClaudiaG@cccindy.org, or you can sign up using the link below.

VOLUNTEER NOW

How Are You Called to Ministry?

At CCC we heartily believe that everyone is called to ministry in some way, whether your ministry includes preaching and celebrating the eucharist for hundreds of people, caregiving for an individual, or even just lending a sympathetic ear to a friend.

If you enjoy careful consideration of scriptures and other theological writings, Education for Ministry (EfM) may be your next step in your ministry journey. Developed and overseen by The School of Theology–University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, EfM is an in-depth study of scripture, church history, selected readings and shared theological reflection within a small community of people seeking to deepen their prayer lives and an awareness of God in their ordinary daily lives.

The CCC EfM group meets weekly September through May. EfM is a four-year certificate program, but because we know life sometimes interrupts our best plans, participants are asked to reaffirm their commitment each summer. Visit the EfM webpage to learn more or email Jude Magers or Theresa Stinson: jamagers@indy.rr.com, stinson.theresa@gmail.com.

LEARN MORE

Join Our Advocacy Outreach Team

Christ Church Cathedral, along with other diocesan parishes, partners and collaborates with Faith in Indiana to advocate for social and racial justice and equity. Faith in Indiana’s diverse religious traditions are called to enact abundance, dignity, and inclusion in all public decisions and have worked locally to enact police reform, strengthen immigrant inclusion, and end hunger.

In their efforts surrounding hunger, the  Advocacy Outreach Team needs your help to submit Offering of Letters in partnership with Bread for the World. This easy-to-complete letter encourages your representatives to expand the Child Tax Credit and to increase global nutrition funding in 2022. Letters are a strong witness of community concerns and personal testimonies. You are encouraged to personalize your message for the most impact, but Bread for the World’s simple system allows you to complete the process in mere minutes.

Once you send your letters, please notify The Rev. Fatima Yakubu-Madus so she can track participation in the diocese.

EMAIL REV. FATIMA
SEND A LETTER 

Bi-Monthly Blood Drive at CCC

TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, NOON TO 4:30PM

Christ Church Cathedral has partnered with Versiti Blood Center of Indiana to offer a blood drive every other month on the second Tuesday of the month in the Parish Hall.

The first of these bi-monthly blood drives will be Tuesday, August 10, and we invite all of our neighbors in the area to take advantage of this opportunity to make a profound difference in a person’s life.

Pre-registration is encouraged but not required. A photo ID and proof of birth date are required for Versiti’s records.

LEARN MORE

AA Groups Return to CCC

For many years, CCC has hosted 12-step meetings during the work week for all of our neighbors in the area. During the pandemic, we were loathe to close our doors to these groups, and we’re pleased to announce that we will resume this ministry this week.

Beginning August 2, AA will meet at noon in the Parish Hall on Mondays through Thursdays. In accordance with our current regathering plan guidelines, masks will be mandatory, and we will not offer coffee as we have done.

LEARN MORE

Introducing “Realm Connect”

How often have you scoured your resources trying to track down contact info for someone you met at church? Or maybe you have trouble remembering what Sundays you volunteered to serve in some way? Well, we are excited to introduce a new tool that will help the CCC community develop and maintain connections with other parishioners and ministry leaders.

Realm Connect, with its user-friendly interface, will make it easier than ever to find contact information—and immediately connect with other churchgoers. In addition to its capacity as an online directory, Realm Connect enables direct chatting between users, and it works on your phone and desktop. It also makes it easy to register for events and to make your online contributions.

CCC will migrate to this new system during the first week of August, and members should watch their email after Aug. 8 for their personal invitation to join CCC’s online community.

LEARN MORE