Sunday, October 3:
St. Francis Day: Reflections from the life of Francis whom one writer describes as perhaps the most beloved and least followed saint in the church. Led by Todd Donatelli
Theme in October and November: Transitions in life. Fall into Winter, All Saints and All Souls. How does a community of faith approach and live into the moments of change and endings in our personal and communal life?
Sunday, October 10:
Transitions in Life: Lauren Winner, Assistant Professor of Christian Spirituality, will speak about rituals in times of death and how they teach and invite us into a holy mourning.
Sunday, October 17:
Community Breakfast and Ministry Day. Ministries of the cathedral will have booths in the parish hall describing their work and giving parishioners the opportunity to sign up to help.
Sunday, October 24:
Transitions in Life: The Eucharist as symbol and food for our movement into life. In every liturgy we are broken open, we die, and we do not do it alone. We listen, respond and move as one body, we walk this as a community. How does the liturgy serve as the place we practice, learn and move into the transition periods of our life? Where and how do our stories and the stories of our faith become mutually feeding? Led by Todd Donatelli and Thomas Murphy.
Sunday, October 31:
Transitions in Life: Speaking Medically. When we face the end of life, how do we die in character? Medical matters (what happens), preparation and family conversations, advance directives, how do you talk to doctors and what do you ask? Led by Dr. Miles Elmore and Margaret McKeel, R.N.
Sunday, November 7:
Transitions in Life: Rituals that bring life into our endings. Well before a burial rite families and individuals can create rituals which offer dignity to chapters of changed life. How do we not only talk about, but mark our wishes in ways that bring a return to wholeness? How do we mark moments of declining freedom that make what may be our last chapter one that continues into the mystery of the unknown, one that feeds our remaining and significant time here? All of life can be seen in context of loss and adaptation. How do we live as we die? How do we live in ways that bring comfort and peace, that mark our connection to physical presence in the world, that mark our relations with each other and God? Led by Betsy Gardner and Kay Mantiply-Clark.
Sunday, November 14:
Transitions in Life: Further opportunities for work. We will discuss further resources and opportunities for individuals and families wishing to work on issues of medical, financial and liturgical directives as well as how we communicate these.