Lent at the Cathedral

Deepening Relationships...

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus connected fasting with charitable giving and prayer. In the early Church, new Christians spent a lot of time preparing for their baptism at the Easter Vigil. The season of fasting called Lent became the final and most intense part of the preparation. Since Christians understand Jesus’ death and resurrection as an essential part of our reconciliation with God, Lent also became a time to seek reconciliation.

Many Christian practices have developed over the last 1600 years, but Lent has remained a season of holiness and humility. A time to respond to God’s Word and deepen our relationship with God through charitable giving, abstaining from worldly pleasures, earnestly seeking God through study and prayer, and accepting our need for forgiveness and reconciliation.

Below are ways that members of St. James Cathedral are encouraged to deepen their relationship with God, and with others around them, this holy season of Lent.

Growing in Prayer and Faith...

Worship

On Weekdays...
St. James offers weekday Eucharist service at 12:10 p.m. in the Cathedral, Monday through Friday. We hope you will take a break during your work day to worship with us during this holy season.

St. James continues to offer Zoom morning prayer at 9 a.m. Monday through Friday. Either or both of these offer the opportunity to make a God-shaped space during the week, and I hope you might give renewed thought to how you might enhance your worship life in this way during this holy season.

On Sundays...
St. James offers three services every Sunday: 8 a.m. Spoken Eucharist, 9 a.m. Family Eucharist, and 11 a.m. Choral Eucharist (also live-streamed). Choral Evensong will be offered on April 6 at 4 p.m.

Online...
St. James live-streams the 11 a.m. Choral Eucharist every Sunday along with other special services. Live-stream on our streaming page.

All are invited to subscribe to St. James' Sermons of the Day sent out each morning, Monday-Friday. Hear each of the St. James clergy reflect on the day's Gospel Reading.

Formation

Lenten St. Martin's-St. James Book Group

Each Lent the Peace & Justice Committee of the Diocese of Chicago selects a book for the whole diocese to study for Lent. St. Martin's and St. James choose to study this book and discuss it together via Zoom.

This year's book is Come Have Breakfast: Meditations on God and the Earth, a text on Eco-justice and Creation Care, by Jesuit theologian and Professor Emerita of Fordham University, Elizabeth A. Johnson.

We will meet on Zoom at 6:00 PM on Thursdays:

February 26 - discussing the introduction through chapter 7

March 12 - discussing chapters 8 through 20

March 26 - discussing chapters 21 through 30

Please email the office to receive the Zoom link to the meetings

The book is available for purchase in paperback, e-book, and audiobook, or available to borrow from the St. James or St. Martin's libraries.

Wednesday Evenings following 5:45pm Evensong and Dinner
Poetry of Life, Longing, Lament, and Love: This Lent all are welcome to meet in Meeting Room 1 as we read, discuss, and reflect on the poetry of Mary Oliver, Pádraig Ó Tuama, Naomi Shahib Nye, Li-Young Lee, and more, exploring our thoughts and feelings around the concepts of life, longing, lament, love and more.

Musical

Choral Evensong
Sunday, March 1 at 4 p.m.
The Cathedral Choir celebrates the music of Henry Purcell, England’s greatest composer of 17th-century. Drawing upon French and Italian influences and the heritage of Tudor polyphony, Purcell created a unique and cosmopolitan style. Equally adept at writing for the Anglican liturgy and the opera house, Purcell’s church music is imbued with dramatic flair. His anthems “Hear my prayer” and “Jehova quam multi sunt” reflect the penitential nature of the season of Lent. A reception will follow in Kyle’s Place.

An Invitation

Baptism, Confirmation, and Reception Preparation in Lent
Are you interested in being Baptized, Confirmed, or Received at St. James? The upcoming season of Lent is a traditional time of preparation for members seeking formal membership or a deeper connection to the church.

If you would like to join this time of preparation in Lent or would like more information, please contact the Rev. Canon Steven Balke.