Post on 09-Mar-2020
Grace Episcopal Cathedral Topeka, Kansas
November 2019 Vol. 94, No. 11
Dear Siblings in Christ,
In mid-October,
Steve Atha, Jane
Myers, Steve Page,
and I attended the
160th meeting of
the Annual
Convention for the
diocese as your lay
delegates and
clergy representative. This was an
exciting convention because it was
our first with Bishop Cathleen
Bascom. The theme for this
convention was “Who is my
neighbor?” based on Luke 10:29. Our
theme helped guide us in discussions
around Presiding Bishop Curry’s
“Way of Love” and The Kansas
Minster Project. There will be more
information on this project soon.
At this convention we elected two
new members to the Council of
Trustees, as well as four deputies and
four alternates to the 2021 General
Convention in both clergy and lay
orders. We also adopted a mission
plan (budget) for 2020. Once the
minutes from convention are
available, we will make them
available to you.
Grace Cathedral was well
represented in many ways at
convention. Marilyn Trubey was
elected to serve on the Council of
Trustees — the governing body of the
diocese between conventions. Marilyn
will serve on the council for three
years. Sarah Shipman has been
elected to serve as a lay deputy to
General Convention, and I have been
From the Curate
Continued on page 2
November 28, 2019 — 10 a.m. Join us for our traditional Thanksgiving Day worship. The celebration
of Holy Communion begins at 10 a.m. and will last about one hour.
Thanksgiving Day ServiceThanksgiving Day ServiceThanksgiving Day Service
Psalm 69:30
elected as second alternate for the
clergy. This means that if any of the
clergy deputies/alternates above me
is unable to attend, then I will be
moved up to first alternate. The
diocese requires that the first
alternate attends Convention, to be
able to step in for other deputies who
may need a break. The 79th General
Convention will conduct business
over the course of 10 days. Many
deputies also serve on a committee,
which means that they will have 14
hour days. Thank you to Marilyn and
Sarah for serving the Church on a
diocesan and national level.
I also want to recognize our very
own Reader’s Theater group for
putting together a wonderful skit for
the convention banquet
entertainment. The skit they put
together and performed not only
served as entertainment, but it also
helped to further the mission of The
Kansas Minster Project about the
need to share and receive resources
from one another. Thank you
Reader’s Theater for sharing your
ministry with our diocese.
Lastly, I want to recognize
Cathedral members Melodie
Woerman for the work she does for
convention, and Jeanne Atha for
being the recipient of the Bishop’s
Chair. If I had the room, I would
brag on the entire diocesan staff!
Melodie works incredibly hard to put
together all communication matters
for convention, and takes care of the
technology needs. As many of you
know, Jeanne is the Executive
Assistant to the Bishop and has gone
above and beyond to assist Bishop
Cathleen during her transition and
her first year with us. Thank you to
Melodie and congratulations to
Jeanne.
If you have any questions about
convention, then please do not
hesitate to reach out.
— In God’s Love,
The Reverend Ashley Mather
From the Curate November 3 is the day when
our 2020 pledges are collected
and placed on the altar to ask
God’s blessing for our gifts
and our work in the coming
year. Please take some time to
consider your pledge and
whether you can increase your
giving to the church.
Budget planning for 2020 has already begun and it is vital that the Finance
Committee knows how much income the church will have to work with in the
coming year. We ask that you place your completed pledge card in the
collection boxes in the Cathedral, or mail to the office before November 3.
Thank you!
November 3
CHORAL EVENSONG for All Saints’ Sunday
Sung by the Cathedral Choir
with soloist Sarah Tennehill Anderson.
Evening Canticles by Bob Chilcott,
Responses by Harrison Oxley,
Anthems by John Rutter and Healey Willan.
Reception to follow.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3 at 4 P.M.
The names of Cathedral members who have died since last
All Saints Day will be read aloud during this service.
People in attendance will also have the opportunity to
lift up in prayer the names of their loved ones.
Dr. Boaz Sharon, concert pianist Sunday, November 10, 3 p.m. Leonard Bernstein, “The Masque” (From Age of
Anxiety)
Morton Gould, “Boogie Woogie Etude”
George Gershwin, “American in Paris”
Reception to follow
Tickets: $10/General; $5/Students; 12 & younger/free
available at www.greatspaces.org
GREAT SPACES Music & Arts
Series
Dean Search update The search for our next dean has seen some exciting progress. The Search Team is
pleased to report that onsite interviews with the four finalists will be completed by
the end of October. After receiving input from the staff, the team will meet to
evaluate each candidate and make a discernment, with the Holy Spirit’s help, the
first week of November. The final choice will be sent to the vestry and the bishop
for approval, and Bishop Bascom will make the actual call to the finalist. Assuming the candidate accepts the call, a
Letter of Agreement will be negotiated. Once that is executed, a public announcement will be made.
Please, continue to hold the Search Team in your prayers during this time.
Adult Forum in November Spiritual Expressions - The search for new spiritual expressions is a part of our American story. That search has led to
some periods of religious revivals such as the “Great Awakening.” For others, Mormonism, Adventism, Jehovah
Witnesses, and even “New Age” movements. Join us each Sunday in November for a short review of these movements
and the impact they have had on our culture and our own expression of faith. This four-part series, taught by Steve
Roth, will take place in All Saints Hall beginning November 3, 9:30 a.m.
Special Music, November 10 Mark your calendars: On Sunday, November 10 during the 10:30 a.m. service, we will welcome the Stella Durrance
Honor’s Brass Quintet from Washburn University. This fine group of musicians is recognized as the “best of the best”
at Washburn. They will provide special music during the service along with prelude music. Menninger Bible Study at Grace
Join us for the Menninger Bible Study, held each Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the Robyn Room (corner of All Saints Hall).
In November, the study will be focusing on the following Biblical characters:
November 4 – Uzziah; November 11 – Hezekiah; November 18 – Josiah;
November 25 – Review of II Kings and II Chronicles
For more information, contact Michael Deibler, deibler.michael@yahoo.com.
Senior Saints of Grace, November 13 The Senior Saints of Grace will hold their monthly covered dish luncheon on Wednesday, November 13, 11:30 a.m. in
All Saints Hall. Following lunch, retired Kansas Supreme Court Justice Ed Larson will speak on the topic of selecting
judges. All are welcome to attend. Just bring a dish to share and we’ll see you there!
Movie Night at Grace, November 13 This month’s film will be The Mighty Macs, starring Ellen Burstyn. In the early 70s, Cathy Rush becomes the head
basketball coach at a tiny, all-girls Catholic college. “Though her team has no gym and no uniforms — and the school
itself is in danger of being sold — Coach Rush looks to steer her girls to their first national championship.” (imdb.com)
The Mighty Macs will be shown in All Saints Hall Wednesday, November 13, 6-8 p.m. Refreshments will be
provided. For more information, contact Mike Deibler at deibler.michael@yahoo.com.
Vestry nominations being accepted Four new vestry members need to be nominated for approval at next January’s annual meeting — three to serve 3-year
terms, and one to serve a two-year term. (Keith McKibben was elected last year to serve only an extra year as Senior
Warden). In addition to Keith (224-0959), the other vestry members who are completing their terms of service are Phil
Dittmer (608-9591), Sharon Highberger (633-7764) and Jackie Sommers (383-5035).
Vestry members must be 18 or older, must be in regular worship attendance, must already be active in a Cathedral
ministry, and must have made and maintained a financial pledge to the church in the previous year.
If you would like to nominate yourself or someone else for the vestry, first ask that person if it is okay to nominate
them. If they’re agreeable, submit the person’s name to one of the above vestry members (the Nominating Committee).
The deadline to submit nominations is Dec. 6.
Sandwich Ministry volunteers needed The Saturday morning Sandwich Ministry needs some more volunteers to work on the second Saturday mornings of
the month. This ministry serves sack lunches consisting of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chips and cookies to
hundreds of people every month. Lunches are distributed each Saturday (holidays included), 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. If you
can help with this much-needed ministry, please contact the Cathedral office, 235-3457.
Last month, some of the youth and I
went on retreat to St. Paul’s in Manhattan.
Our theme for the retreat was “Go” from
Presiding Bishop Curry’s invitation to
practice the Way of Love. We teamed up
with K-State Canterbury to help them with
their work day, we went to see and worship
God in creation at the Konza Prairie, and
we worked on our relationships as a team.
(On this page are some of our pictures.)
It was a time of renewal, and I am grateful to have spent that time with some of our amazing youth. I’m already
planning ahead for next year’s retreat so we can get it on everybody’s calendars early! Thank you to St. Paul’s,
Manhattan, for their generosity and hospitality.
We are also gearing up for Fall Fun Fest & Trunk or Treat with First Presbyterian Church and First United
Methodist Church (of Topeka). Thanks to Mark Quintana, Carolyn Jones, and Kathy Smith for being part of the team
here at Grace that is working with the other two churches to pull all the details together. Be on the look out for pictures!
Lastly, I am looking for an awesome group of adults to form a youth support team. This team would help me recruit
more youth ministers, help with planning events (including ways to involve our youth more into the life of the church),
and they would simply be our youth programs biggest cheerleaders. If this sounds like you or someone you know in our
parish, then please reach out. God has big plans for our youth here at Grace, but we need a support team to help us
flourish. I hope you’ll join me.
— The Reverend Ashley Mather, Curate
from Kathy Smith
We are having a great time in Sloan Hall with our Sunday School kids. The
elementary ages are following the lectionary cycle with their lessons, while the
middle and high school kids are having meaningful conversations around some
of life’s “big questions,” current topics, and how the Bible can help to guide us
through so many situations in our lives.
In Children’s Chapel, the kids are tackling one book of the Bible at a time,
learning not only the key stories, but also cool facts about the main characters,
the authors, and even some of the geography. By the end of the year, we will
each have an amazing notebook to take home!
Next Parent’s Night Out: Friday, November 1, 6-9 p.m. Parents, enjoy an
evening away while your children enjoy Game Night! Bring your favorite
game, or choose from our ever growing collection of fabulous board games.
Dinner for the kids will be provided and nursery care is available for infants
and toddlers. Kids are invited to bring a friend. An adult volunteer is needed
that evening. Please contact Kathy Smith, knsmith@gracecathedraltopeka.org,
or the Cathedral office (235-3457) if you can help or to RSVP.
SAVE THE DATE - Sunday, December 8
St. Nicholas Celebration - The whole congregation is invited to join the fun in
All Saints Hall following the 10:30 service! Bring a breakfast dish to share.
Meet St. Nicholas, make ornaments PLUS we will be collecting gifts for the
guests at the Topeka Rescue Mission.
Our Halloween-themed Parent’s Night Out on October 4
All Creatures Great and Small
A traditional date for “Blessing
of the Animals” is usually the feast
day of St. Francis of Assisi (October
4). However one little creature was a
bit late for the feast day but knew
where to come nonetheless.
A little Siamese cat showed up
on the Cathedral grounds looking
pretty scared and hungry. For more
than a week, Curate Ashley Mather
and Kent Wingerson made it their
mission to see that the kitty was fed
and set up a warm bed as shelter until
they could catch her and bring her
inside.
After some phone calls and
attempts to find a possible owner,
Ashley put this picture on Facebook
to see if anyone was interested in
adopting the kitty. In less than an
afternoon, she had a taker! “Gracie”
now has a new home with a family in
Wichita.
“God requires that we assist the
animals, when they need our help.
Each being (human or creature) has
the same right of protection.”
— attributed to St. Francis of Assisi
Fall Training event
The Stephen Ministry network of
congregations is
planning for next
year’s training of
new Stephen
Ministers. The
training will
last about 11
weeks,
beginning in late January-early
February.
The Stephen Ministry is
described as “God’s Love in Action.”
The task of those called to this service
is to listen, encourage and support
those who are in crisis or transition.
Now is the time for you to
consider whether God is calling you
to this ministry. If you are interested
and need more information, please
contact Karel Ramsey (232-1452).
If you, or someone you know
would like the care of a Stephen
Minister, please contact either Karel
or Gwen McClain (506-6929).
by Karel Ramsey
Many students at Topeka High School (our
neighbors to the south) are from families that
sometimes struggle to meet basic needs. One way
the “Communities in Schools” program helps is
by providing personal hygiene products to the
students.
The Grace Outreach Committee is offering
Cathedral members an opportunity support this
effort by accepting contributions of supplies
during Advent (beginning December 3). As soon
as the Mitten Tree goes up in the sanctuary, there
will be baskets around the base, ready to accept
your gifts. Items of greatest need are (for both
male and female students) deodorant, body wash, and shampoo. Toothbrushes
and toothpaste are often needed, as are feminine hygiene products (tampons
preferred). If you have baskets you could loan to collect gifts, please call Karel
Ramsey (232-1452).
Please join us in helping our neighbors! Thank you.
Outreach to Topeka High
SHOWING IN NOVEMBER—WORKS BY MICHAEL MIZE
The Cloister Gallery
Disciple, Husband, Father, Artist & Teacher
“For the past 18 years I’ve been a high school art teacher, which is a career I've known I wanted to pursue since the early days of my own high school education. I received my BFA in Art Education from Washburn University in May of 2000, and I've been teaching at the high school level ever since. For the past 14 years I taught art at Washburn Rural High School. This past
year, however, was my last. I plan now to homeschool my own kids and am very much looking forward to continuing to teach art privately and with local homeschool co-ops. For the past 5 years, I also sponsored a student club at WRHS called "Creation Club" that focused mainly on the Biblical account of creation and the wealth of scientific evidence that supports it. I continue to maintain a Creation Club YouTube channel, Facebook page, and Instagram account (@creation_club). I also hope to begin holding public meetings of Creation Club in the near future.
Gallery hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday, 8 a.m.-noon
You are invited to dinner at the
Cathedral following our annual
Thanksgiving Day service! Our
hosts, Roy and Arceile Ridgeway,
and Shirley Morrow, will prepare
the turkey and ham. You are asked
to bring a side dish or dessert.
There will be a sign-up sheet in the
Cathedral for those who are
coming and what dish you will
provide. If you are unable to bring
food, come anyway. We just want
people to have a good meal and
fellowship on Thanksgiving Day.
Watch for sign-up sheets
coming soon and put Thursday,
November 28, at 11:30 a.m. on
your calendar.
Thanksgiving Day Dinner November 28, 11:30 a.m.,
We apologize if we have missed
your birthday or have incorrect
information. Please call the office
at 235-3457 with any corrections.
SEPTEMBER ATTENDANCE
2019 2018 2017
1st Sunday 207 253 224
2nd Sunday 211 237 256
3rd Sunday 227 272 223
4th Sunday 200 236 228
5th Sunday 209 214
Bring non-
perishable food
items to fill the
grocery cart in the
Cathedral. The
food is distributed to Let’s Help and
Doorstep.
FOOD
SUNDAY
November 3
Treasurer’s Report
September 30, 2019
For the month of September,
operating income was $116,383.15,
and operating expense was
$57,992.33, resulting in a positive
balance of $58,390.82.
Operating income for the year to
date was $674,769.97, and operating
expense for the year to date was
$639,319.38, resulting in a positive
balance of $35,450.59.
Cash in the bank checking account,
per books, on September 30, 2019
was $61,291.98.
Summers, Spencer & Company,
P.A. performed an Independent
Auditor’s Report for years ending
December 31, 2018 and 2017. Their
report stated for the above period,
Grace Cathedral is in accordance with
the cash basis accounting systems
accepted in the United States. They
also stated that we have no uninsured
balances deposited in our general
fund checking account.
— Lance Royer, Treasurer
November Flower Memorials
11 Departed members of the
Women’s Guild
2 Deacon Joseph A.T. Thompson
4 Hilda Eliza Burrow
Edmund Stawicki
5 Luella O. Stanfield
7 Hilda Mary Burrow
9 Willard T. Geiger
10 Kenneth Marti
Grace E. Marti
George W. Reed
11 Jemima Saunders
12 Mabelle C. Caldwell
Russell R. Poteete
Deborah M. Nelson
John Hugo Nelson
13 Richard Clyde Glenn
15 Maria W. Sheafor
19 Darryl “Dode” Lesser
20 Ida B. Groshong
Helen Crosby Porter
John Leslie Howard
22 Bishop Frank R. Millspaugh
24 John Nicholas Strotz
Gertrude McClintock Whitcomb
25 Bennett Rollin Wheeler
28 Fred D. Gibson
30 Katherine F. Clough
Adelaide Milspaugh Zanner
Mary Elizabeth Rinker Bearman
2 John Finch
Matt Vogelsberg
Dix Waugh
Melodie Woerman
3 Kathy Chestnut
Tom Harrington
Tristan Hedtke
5 Sharon Durrell
Elizabeth Massey
7 Judy Bray
9 Donald Grimes
10 Ginger Davis
12 Tim Carkhuff
Kitty Fapp
Caitlin Routh
13 Pennie Carter
15 Jeremy Kebert
17 Dakota Benson
18 Sally Burk
19 Jonathan Shermoen
20 Marci Genevieve
22 Karel Ramsey
23 Marius Pacioianu
24 Mark Synovec
26 Marvin Stottlemire
28 Norman Nellis
29 Pam Alexander
30 Ken Park
About the window… The stained glass window on the
front cover of The Chimes this
month is located above the St.
Mary’s Chapel exterior door. It
depicts Jesus and two of his
Apostles in Emmaus after his
resurrection. It was not until Jesus
blessed the bread that the apostles
recognized the Lord in his
resurrected body. (Luke 24:13-31) Daylight Saving Time ends November 3
Weekly Schedule Sunday
8:30 a.m.—Holy Communion, Rite I
9:30 a.m.—Sunday School (Sept.-May)
10:30 a.m.—Children’s Chapel
10:30 a.m.—Holy Communion, Rite II
The Mission of Grace Cathedral is to live as a community which proclaims by word and example the good news of God in Christ.
GRACE CATHEDRAL CLERGY
The Right Reverend Dr. Cathleen Chittenden Bascom, Bishop of the Diocese of Kansas
The Reverend George Pejakovich, Pastoral/Liturgical Assistant
The Reverend Ashley Mather, Curate
Deacon Donald Chubb
Deacon Anne Flynn
The Very Reverend Steve Lipscomb, Dean Emeritus
CATHEDRAL STAFF
Kent Wingerson, Cathedral Verger/Finance & Facilities Manager
Connie Vosburgh, Office Administrator
Steve Burk, Organist/Choirmaster
Sylvia Hamilton, Assistant Organist
Zachary Cope, Music Assistant
Kathy Smith, Director of Children’s Ministries
Michael Godfrey, Sexton
VESTRY OF GRACE CATHEDRAL
Keith McKibben (Sr. Warden), Tammy King (Jr. Warden), Phil Dittmer,
Sharon Highberger, Jackie Sommers, Gwen McClain,
Steve Roth, Ron Langston and Chris Shermoen; Lance Royer, Treasurer;
Phil Elwood, Chancellor; Cynthia Sheppeard Langston, Vice-Chancellor
701 SW Eighth Avenue
Topeka, Kansas 66603-3219
(785) 235-3457 • Fax (785) 235-1863
E-mail: info@GraceCathedralTopeka.org
Website: www.GraceCathedralTopeka.org
2019