Warning: "continue" targeting switch is equivalent to "break". Did you mean to use "continue 2"? in /home/djxcbosu/public_html/plugins/acymailing/tagcontent/tagcontent.php on line 1228
Coming Up at Christ Church Cathedral
This e-mail contains graphics, if you don't see them » view it online.
|
IN THIS ISSUE • March 21, 2025
Childcare Service
Spring 2025 Bible Class Volunteer at the Needful Things Pantry Saturday, March. 29, 2:30-5:30 pm Chippewa Valley Street Ministry Journal ~ March 19, 2024 Join Us Potluck Sunday ~ April 6th Holy Week Schedule 2025 Sign Up for the Nightwatch at the Altar of Repose Easter Sunday Service ~ April 20, 2025 9 AM Sign up now to Host Coffee Hour ~ Join the Brew Crew Intercessions In-person Worship (or live stream at home) this Sunday at 9am Follow Us on Social Media Kwik Trip Cards Fundraiser VANCO Chippewa Valley Street Ministry Journal ~ March 19, 2024Chippewa Valley Street Ministry notes:
March 19, 2025
We, like so many organizations and individuals in our community, have a lot on our minds. We are aiming to keep this non-political and share some news that has us concerned about the populations we serve. On the street, we see familiar faces that are tired and frustrated. There is little we can do to alleviate those feelings but we try to decrease some anxiety by supporting day-to-day needs. A hoodie or blanket might not seem like much to most of us but for someone who survives from one day to the next, those items provide more than the basic intent of warmth or protection from the wind: they may feel a sense of compassion, a sense of importance, a sense of being cared for. The act of providing a hoodie includes a time to have a conversation, for a person to share what they've done during the day, what frustrates them or gives them hope — and hope is an invaluable commodity for all of us.
Rather than repeat or rewrite entire articles, we've chosen to paraphrase the issues from our perspective and give you the links that will provide additional information.
Sojourner House: There is a real concern that the shelter will need to reduce its service hours. This information has created a significant level of anxiety for the people who currently shelter there. While the potential closure is not forecasted to occur until May, people are unsure as to what they will do without that service. We have been asked if we will still be available and we are assuring our visitors that we will continue to be in service. We are discussing and anticipating what additional needs we will have to support people should a closure occur. For more information regarding this concern, please click HERE.
Elimination of the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program: The street ministry regularly partners with Shepherd's Closet, a ministry of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, to provide leftover food to local schools in their pantries and food assistance programs for families. Representatives from Shepherd's Closet mirror the concerns of our local food bank, Feed My People, and share that the elimination of the LFPA program will harm many, many children and families due to the decreased access to supplemental nutritious foods. For more information regarding this situation, please see Feed My People press release. From a Shepherd's Closet volunteer:
"A majority of the food and supplies comes from Feed My People Food Bank. The schools place weekly orders with them and have a certain monthly budget that they use to fill in any gaps we have in the Pantry. The rest comes from donations from students, families, and staff of North and Memorial High School's. We have been taking leftover food from Ruby's Pantry and donations from the Street Ministry for the last 3 years. In March we took 2 car loads to both Memorial and North this week and one carload to South Middle school. These donations help extend the school's budget. Donations of any kind are appreciated."
North High School Information (as noted from Shepherd Closet representative)
"Feed My People requires us to track how many people receive pantry items, and how much goes out (by weight). Here are North's statistics from February. I believe this would be a good snapshot of our monthly average.
-Over 1300 pounds of food were served
-98 total households were served
-244 children were served
-219 adults were served
-7 senior adults were served"
Eau Claire Areas School District/Family Services:
Per Dani Graham, ECASD Coordinator, 280 students have been identified who have experienced homelessness within this school year - so far. Most significant this year has been that seven of the identified families stay in their vehicles, including a family of seven; this is the most the school district has ever identified in one school year and the school year is not over yet.
The district's Free & Reduced numbers are around 42% of the student population, and most of those students' family's incomes are low enough to qualify for free meals.
There are food pantries at all ECASD middle and high schools and they all partner with Feed My People to get food items for students and families but struggle to get any snack items and ready-to-eat food items for students who need those. To help with this issue, bins are located at each school to help collect those items:
The community is welcome and encouraged to drop off snacks and ready-to-eat items.
With the warmer weather, we are seeing more visitors and we are grateful for the opportunity to assist them in their needs. We are also grateful to you, our support system, for providing the means to be of service. We have begun transitioning from winter to summer gear — only to retreat back to some winter items as the weather can't seem to commit to warmer, safer weather quite yet.
People gather in a park.
The warmer weather is a welcome change.
We recently encountered a visitor who has us concerned about his safety and vulnerability. We did take some action behind the scenes but are unsure that he won't fall through the cracks of the systems that are in place. He appeared unsteady and erratic but none of us believed that he was under the influence of substances. Many of his peers recognized his vulnerability and were committed to keeping him safe. We'll try to keep track of him and contact other agencies if possible.
Steve is assisting a visitor who arrived without shoes and needed some hygiene support.
A woman who typically arrives just as we are leaving has shared some of her history. Because of concerns about domestic violence in her past, we assisted her by providing information about the domestic abuse shelter. One volunteer walked to the shelter with the woman to be screened for services.
While there is significant concern about how decisions at the federal level will affect the people we serve as well as the community as a whole, we remain steadfast in our mission to help those in need, particularly the unhoused. We appreciate your support and encourage you to continue reading our journals for news and ways to help support our brothers and sisters who are struggling. Please be alert to changes in services and policies that affect us individually and as a community.
Blessings to all.
CVSM staff
Sign Up for the Nightwatch at the Altar of Repose
On the night of His Last Supper, Jesus shared the gift of the Holy Eucharist and prepared His disciples for the immense trial to come. After supper, He withdrew to the Garden of Gethsemane, where He prayed to the Father for strength. In that sacred moment, He invited His closest friends to stay with Him, to watch and pray: “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here and watch.” Each year on Maundy Thursday, we honor this moment by processing the Blessed Sacrament from the altar to a place of solemn rest — the Altar of Repose — set apart in a quiet, sacred space. This mirrors the journey to Gethsemane, where Jesus waited in deep prayer before His arrest. For centuries, Christians have kept watch through the night, remembering Christ’s anguish and unwavering love. We invite you to take part in this ancient tradition by committing to an hour of prayer and reflection at the Altar of Repose. ◊ Date & Time: Maundy Thursday, April 17 at 6:00 p.m. Whether in silent prayer, reflection, or simple presence, this is a sacred opportunity to walk with Jesus in His final hours before the Cross. Sign up for a time of watchful prayer immediately following the Maundy Thursday service. Let us enter these holy days with reverence, keeping watch with Christ. Sign up now to Host Coffee Hour ~ Join the Brew Crew
We need sign ups for the month of March and April! If you enjoy coffee hour, please consider picking one Sunday! The sign-up sheet is now posted in the memorial lounge and in sign-up genius for hosting September coffee hours. To sign up through sign-up genius scroll to the bottom of this email, and click on the link. You can also sign up on the poster by the kitchen window when you’re at church this Sunday. If you’ve never hosted coffee hour, but you would like to get started, talk to Mary Gadwill and Becky Van Es. We will be happy to host with you your first time to give you instructions. Thank you to all for making coffee hours enjoyable for everyone! This is a time to connect with your church family following the service on Sunday. It's fun & easy! We want to keep it simple, coffee, juice, and breakfast items (donuts, donut holes, muffins, cookies, etc.) Please check your calendar and review the available slots below; click on the button to sign up. Help us keep coffee hour brewing! Intercessions• For those in need of healing, guidance, and comfort: Elliot, Deb, • Diocese of Wisconsin Cycle of Prayer: • March Birthdays: • March Anniversaries:
In-person Worship (or live stream at home) this Sunday at 9am
There is a link embedded in the middle of the invitation. To use this link, you have to download the free "Zoom" app to your smartphone, tablet, or computer. If you have that app on your device, all you have to do is click the link on the email and you will automatically connect. (Be sure to allow the app to access your camera and microphone, if requested. If you don't want to use the app, or are using a device that can't download the app, you can go to the website for Zoom: https://zoom.us On the upper right hand side of your screen, there will be a tab titled "Join a Meeting." Click on that tab and you will be prompted to enter a "Meeting ID or Personal Link Name." The "Meeting ID" can be found toward the bottom of the invitation. I've highlighted it in red to be easier to find. In the case of this meeting, the ID is: 924 746 7996. Just enter those digits without a space or dashes and click enter. From there, you'll be prompted to allow access to your camera/microphone. Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 924 746 7996 One tap mobile Dial by your location 
Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral The Episcopal Diocese of Eau Claire To ensure that our messages arrive in your inbox, please add This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to your contacts. If you prefer not to receive news from Christ Church Cathedral in the future, click here to unsubscribe. |
||
|
|
||
Join us for the Rite II Holy Eucharist Service with The Reverend Lenny Anderson, celebrant who will preach, at 9 a.m. at the Cathedral, or watch this service livestream via Zoom (instructions & link below) or on our Facebook page (to find us on Facebook type in @cathedralec).
Service Schedule
Sunday
Rite II with Eucharist service – 9:00 AM;
In person, Zoom and Facebook live.
Click here to join Sunday morning Zoom service
Holy Days – Eucharist as announced in the Weekly Update
