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