The Latest Cathedral News

St. James Suspends Public Worship

November 17, 2020

Dear Sisters and Brothers,
 
In response to the “Protect Chicago” strategy announced by the Mayor last week, Bishop Lee has suspended in-person worship until December 16. While there is no evidence to suggest that live worship undertaken with appropriate protocols has contributed to the spread of COVID-19, and some churches of other denominations are currently still holding services, there is no doubt that, as the mayor has said, this is a ‘critical point’ in the pandemic, both within the city and the country as a whole.
 
At St. James Cathedral we will continue to live-stream a celebration of the Eucharist at 11am on Sunday mornings, but only those with an active role in the liturgy will be able to be present. The celebrations on Tuesday and Thursday lunchtime will be suspended until further notice.
 
While this is a difficult and painful time, made worse by its proximity to major public holidays, we also see light in the darkness with the announcements concerning the development of vaccines which appear to be highly effective. I know you will join me in praying for as swift an end to this terrible time as possible.
 
Your priest and friend,
The Very Rev. Dominic Barrington
Dean of the Cathedral
Author: The Very Rev. Dominic Barrington

Announcing the 2021 Stewardship Drive

October 26, 2020

Sharing our own selves…

This past Sunday we kicked off our annual stewardship campaign. We heard some of the earliest words of the New Testament, as St. Paul wrote to the newly formed church in Thessalonica. Paul was talking to these new Christian converts about how he “had courage…to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition." Paul was brave and indomitable, but I wonder how he would have coped with living through 2020!

We have lived through much bad news in recent months. The combination of medical, emotional, and economic issues of the pandemic, alongside the social and political turbulence within and beyond our city, have all been deeply disturbing. And yet, like Paul, we also possess Good News and, like the great apostle, are called to share it.

Our good news includes such wonderful blessings as the scale and quality of our online engagement with and beyond our regular worshipping community; an ongoing Zoom program of formation for our many young families ranging from toddlers to teens; a remarkably successful adaptation of Summer in the City; the transformation of our choral programs to virtual music-making of the highest quality; and major growth in our feeding ministries in and beyond the city. Alongside this we not only met but exceeded the target for our pledging campaign for this current year, and the support of our church members has remained constant throughout these difficult months. At a time when the majority of churches have been facing decline, all of this is, truly, good news, and I am writing now to ask for your prayerful support in ensuring that these programs and all our mission and ministry might continue and might grow throughout 2021.

God in Christ calls on us to give our all - money, time and skill - to help build the kingdom. To answer that call the Church has often suggested that its members should aim to set aside a percentage of their income for this purpose. Many Christians aim to use 10% of their income in this way. At St. James, we suggest that church members should offer 5% of their income to their faith community, and another 5% to support other charities.

The impact of the pandemic may have affected your income and thus your ability to give. But I hope that as you reflect with joy on the Good News God continues to give the world, even in times of such unique complexity and challenge, you will take some time to pray about how God is calling you to share what you have received, and support the mission and ministry of St. James Cathedral next year. 

At the end of yesterday’s reading from First Thessalonians, Paul spoke of his determination “to share… not only the gospel of God but also our own selves…” As St. James Cathedral faces the opportunities and challenges that next year will doubtless bring, I invite you to share some of what God has given you to sustain and grow our work. Will you make a pledge for 2021 that will help ensure that your cathedral continue in its vibrant mission?

Your priest and friend,

The Very Rev. Dominic Barrington
Dean of the Cathedral

Author: Alexandra Kunath

Regarding the Sale of St. James Commons

October 07, 2020

Members of the Cathedral Chapter met recently with members of Bishop & Trustees. The trustees spoke of their responsibility to build an endowment of sufficient size to enhance funds available for vitality grants and other forms of support for congregations across the diocese, and that this was the principal motivation in their decision to place 65 East Huron on the market in the early part of 2021.
 
As part of this conversation, Chapter members were pleased to be told that the mission of the cathedral was an important consideration for the trustees. The trustees offered an assurance that there would be proper accommodation of the building and financial needs of the cathedral from the proceeds of such a sale, and agreed to hold further discussions with Chapter to ensure these needs are appropriately identified.


To read the announcement from the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, click here. 

Author: The Very Rev. Dominic Barrington
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