Discernment: More Than Just a Churchy Word

This weekend, our Remember, Rise, Renew Team and I will meet in an all-day retreat to take all the reflections, ideas, and thoughts we’ve heard over the last three months from our many listening sessions with you, our community and nonprofit partners, and our diocesan partners and piece them together to answer the broader questions: What is God’s call/vision/invitation for the people of Christ Church Cathedral in this new chapter of ministry we now find ourselves in? What do we say a disciplined “yes” to with passion and frequency that will help us achieve the mission to which we’ve been called? What do we say a respectful “no” to in order to make our “yeses” truly profound? We know we won’t emerge with a perfectly crafted vision and seven-point plan (not yet, anyway!), but our intention is to have a solid first draft which we will share first with our Vestry and then with you for your feedback on Sunday, Oct. 17.

The work our team will do this weekend is discernment, which is a word often used in a churchy context to mean “intentional listening for the guidance and direction of God for ministry.” But listening for God’s voice and direction is not just for churches and not just for ministry planning. Indeed, discernment is meant for all of God’s people as a way of life. So, I’ll pose our broader questions to you: What is God’s call/vision/invitation to you in your own life? What should you say “yes” to with passion and frequency? What do you say a respectful “no” to that will make your yeses profound? 

Would you like help answering these questions for yourself? After our 10 a.m. Eucharist this Sunday, The Rev. Canon Tom Kryder-Reid will lead our forum time in an introduction to Listening Hearts, a classic book offering us tools to listen for God’s call and invitation in our own lives. We’ll have copies of the book for you to take with you, and in early October, we’ll gather in a small group online for some more discussions.

In all things, may the call of God, both to us as a church and to us as individuals, invite us to bring all the pieces of our lives together, so that we may joyfully and wholly offer ourselves to each other and to the world as a beacon of God’s hope and peace.

Welcome The Rev. Canon Kristin Uffelman White

The Rev. Canon Kristin Uffelman White will be our guest preacher at 8 and 10 a.m. this Sunday, Sept. 19.

Canon Kristin is the Canon to the Ordinary for Congregational Development and Leadership for the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis. Her primary goals are fostering congregational vitality, supporting innovative ministry in our communities, and overseeing congregational transitions.

TOMORROW: Waller & Maxwell Guitar Duo: Spanish Music for Two Guitars

SATURDAY, SEPT. 18, AT 6:30PM

Anne Waller and Mark Maxwell, who will present Spanish Music for Two Guitars, sat down with Canon Christopher Caruso-Lynch, CCC’s Director of Music, to discuss their upcoming concert featuring works by Fernando Sor, Joaquin Rodrigo, and Manuel de Falla. Their discussion about the differences between 19th-century guitars and more modern guitars is very enlightening!

WATCH THE INTERVIEW

CHECK OUT THE FULL CONCERT SERIES

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Children’s Formation Returns to CCC

SUNDAYS AT 11:30AM

We are very excited to resume our children’s Christian Formation activities on Sundays. We’ve missed all those cherubic faces!

This week we invite all families to come to the Parish Hall at 11:30 a.m. for our first monthly service opportunity: assembling breakfast casseroles. These casseroles will be baked in the coming Sundays for our community breakfasts.

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Know Before You Go: Sunday Happenings in Indy

Downtown will be hopping this Sunday as GenCon wraps up and Monumental Yoga sets up. We invite you to come as you are—whether in yoga apparel, LARP costumes or your regular church clothes.

Please note that Monument Circle and all spokes will be closed to vehicles on Sunday starting at 10 a.m. People can be dropped off at the corner of N. Meridian and Ohio St. As always, parking for Sunday services will be available in the Express Park Garage at 20 N. Pennsylvania St. Bring your ticket with you, and an usher will gladly validate it.

SAVE THE DATE: Bishop Jennifer Visits CCC

SUNDAY, SEPT. 26, AT 10AM AND 1PM

Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows will visit CCC to celebrate and preach at the 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. services. After each service, Bishop Jennifer will participate in the forum in the Nave.

Save the Date: The Blessing of the Animals

SATURDAY, OCT. 2, AT 11AM

Join us and bring your fur babies, plumed pals, and slithery sidekicks for the Blessing of the Animals! This short service in observance of the Feast of St. Francis takes place on our front lawn and we welcome all God’s creatures and their guardians. Although outside, masks are still requested for all humans over 2 years of age, and animals must remain under the control of an adult, on a leash, or safely contained at all times. Pets will receive a blessing and a St. Francis medallion as a token of love and protection.

MORE INFORMATION

Save The Date: Stewardship Kick-off Event

SUNDAY, OCT. 3

We will gather for a special bilingual worship service on the lawn at 11 a.m., followed by a celebration to kick off our 2022 Stewardship Campaign: Grateful Together, Giving Together, Growing Together. Our Latino community will provide tamales for everyone, and we will share stories of how our gifts impact the community. Be sure to bring your lawn chairs or picnic blankets!

Throughout the campaign, we’ll share more stories of our gratitude, connection, and mission. Bags containing special elements of our theme also will be distributed during our gathering on Oct. 3 so that you and your family can incorporate the practice of giving into your daily rituals.

See you there!

Delivery Drivers Needed!

SUNDAY, OCT. 3

After our worship service and tamale lunch, we need drivers to deliver goody bags to absent members. We’ll do our best to assign your delivery zone near your home.

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Stephen Ministry Training

Rarely has the need for compassion and caring been greater than now as we all struggle through the continuing coronavirus pandemic and its variants.

Are you a person with a kind heart and a keen listening ear? At Christ Church Cathedral we can train you to be a Stephen Minister—to provide confidential, one-on-one support for people who are facing various stresses, such as loneliness, illness, separation or divorce, job loss, retirement, a new arrival or an empty nest, or just heightened anxiety during these trying times. Stephen Ministers model Christ’s love by being present with their care receivers—listening, empathizing, encouraging.

Training via Zoom will be Monday evenings, 6 to 8:30 p.m., beginning Oct. 18 (please note the updated time and date) and continuing through April 2022. Classes are interactive and rewarding, imparting skills valuable in all human relationships. Commissioned care providers are then supported through regular, required supervision.

A written application and interview are required. Applications are due by Oct. 1. For more information, contact the Rev. Canon Tom Kryder-Reid.

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION

Faith and Action

TUESDAY, OCT. 5 AT 7PM

The Faith & Action Project will host its 2021 Fall Event “American Injustice: Mercy, Humanity and Making a Difference” featuring Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative and author of Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. Stevenson will lead a moderated discussion about how we can overcome poverty by attacking the systemic and social injustices that fuel it. This event is free, but tickets are required.

REGISTER NOW

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