I have exciting news to share. This past June we bid farewell to Deacon Clare as she transitioned to be the Curate for College Ministry at Canterbury House at Kansas State University. Now, just three months and a few days later, we’re welcoming her back as our new Associate for College, Youth, and Children’s Ministry at the Cathedral. Deacon Clare will be with us part time, so will continue her ministry at K-State, but will now resume her previous work with our children, youth, and young adults. Deacon Clare begins (again) with us this Sunday. Welcome back!

Don’t forget everything else that is happening this weekend, including our music fundraiser this evening featuring the KC Jazz Orchestra, a wine and whiskey pull, and a raffle. It begins at 6:30 p.m. in Founders’ Hall. Tickets are still available online or you can pay at the door.

Most High, omnipotent, good Lord, To thee be ceaseless praise outpoured, And blessing without measure. Let creatures all give thanks to thee and serve in great humility.

These words were written by St. Francis of Assisi in his “Canticle of the Sun.” We celebrate his feast day tomorrow, October 4, and will have our annual Blessing of the Animals in honor of St. Francis because of his devotion to all of God’s creatures. Feel free to bring as many pets and animals as you like to our north lawn at 11 a.m.

Sunday afternoon will be our annual Hymn Sing. It’s not too late to submit your favorite hymns. We will start at 3:30 p.m. and finish in time for the 5 p.m. service to begin.

Other upcoming events in October include our Stewardship lunch on Sunday, October 19, in Founders’ Hall following the 10:30 a.m. service, Choral Evensong on Sunday, October 19, at 5 p.m. in the Nave, and our next game night, Halloween Bingo, on Friday, October 24, at 6 p.m. in the Common Room.

I would like to close with more words attributed to St. Francis:

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Please continue to pray for one another, for our Cathedral family, our nation, and the world.