From the Dean
Dear friends,
Clergy this time of year really just have one job, and that's to call the community to prayer in thanksgiving for the birth of Jesus. So … I hope you'll join us December 24th at 6:00 and 10:00 p.m. for our annual observation of the Feast of the Nativity. A half-hour musical prelude begins prior to each service. The following day, Christmas Day, a more intimate celebration will take place at 10 a.m. under the nativity window. Until then, we get to embrace these last days of Advent.
I recently passed out a list of 30 things you can do in Advent to bring your focus into alignment with this season. Mostly it has to do with breaking into the usual daily routine with things that help us remember that we are already in the presence of God. Stopping long enough to reframe and refocus our attention on God brings peace and release. We can wait with a greater and more hopeful expectation for the days to come.
My prayer is more and more that you know the love, mercy, and peace of Christ's ministry and presence.
See you soon,
Dean Torey+ | | Adult Forum, Sundays at 9:30 a.m. in All Saints Hall:
December 21 – We will conclude the clergy-led Advent series.
December 28 and January 4 – No Adult Forum
January 11, 18, and 25 – We will engage in a three-part series on the Beatitudes led by your fellow parishioners.
Christmas Decorating this Sunday: We will begin decorating for Christmas after the 10:30 service this Sunday. For those who are able, your help would be greatly appreciated, and will make the process much faster. If you have a cordless screwdriver, we'd love to borrow that as well.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Services: Please join us on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! We will have two services on Christmas Eve at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Each will have a music prelude starting thirty minutes prior to each service. The 6 p.m. service will also be livestreamed for those who are unable to attend, and incense will be used at the 10 p.m. service. The Christmas Day service will begin at 10 a.m.
The Cathedral office will be closed on December 25 and 26 for the Christmas holiday, and on January 1 for New Years Day.
New offering envelopes are here: If you use offering envelopes to pay your pledge, we have a set for you. They are available on the west side of the Cathedral nave. Please begin using the envelopes the first Sunday of 2026. You should discard any envelopes from previous years since the numbers change each year.
If you don't see a box for you, please contact Kent Wingerson or Cassie Carlson in the Cathedral office.
Winning Christmas Hymn: Voting has closed, 102 votes were counted, and the winning hymn is....... Joy to the World ! We will sing this hymn during the Christmas Eve services on December 24.
Advent Mitten Tree: Throughout December, you'll see our "Mitten Tree" on the Cathedral's east side. All Cathedral members are invited to help decorate the tree with new mittens, gloves, hats and scarves. After Christmas, the items will be given to those who could use the extra warmth this winter through our Sharing Table ministry.
Current Year's Pledge: Please check the status of your 2025 pledge. Wednesday, December 31 will be the last day that your payments will count for the 2025 tax year. However, please make every effort to get your payments in before Christmas as the last week of the year is very busy for our Finance Administrator. You can call Kent in the Cathedral office (785-235-3457) if you are not sure where you are on this year's pledge. Thank you!
Blessing Box items needed: Donations of non-perishable food items may be brought to church and placed in the grocery cart in the Cathedral. Donations may also be brought to the Cathedral office at any time during business hours. Thank you!
Sharing Table Donations: Thank you to everyone who is supplying the necessary,
daily items that most of us take for granted. Please know that your gifts, which we distribute each first Saturday, are helping our neighbors in need. They are so thankful for your generosity.
Current needs include: EVERYTHING!, lotion, reusable bags, wipes, tampons, bandaids, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, chapstick, razors, shaving cream, and bar soap. No clothing donations, please.
With winter now here, we are temporarily accepting the following clothing items: gloves, coats, and NEW socks, underwear, and thermal underwear.
2026 Wall Calendars: A select number of 2026 wall calendars are now available for purchase for $3 each. They include key liturgical dates throughout the year. The calendars can be found in the Cloister Gallery and the church office. | | Saturday, December 20
8:30 a.m., Saturday Sandwich Ministry (ASH kitchen)
10:00 a.m., Sharing the Warmth Ministry (Room 204)
10:00 a.m., Acolytes Meeting (Bubb Room and Cathedral)
Sunday, December 21
8:30 a.m., Spoken Service of Holy Communion, Rite I (Cathedral)
9:30 a.m., Adult Forum (All Saints Hall)
10:30 a.m., Club Jesus for children (Sloan Hall)
10:30 a.m., Holy Communion, Rite II, with choir and organ (Cathedral)
12:00 p.m., Decorating for Christmas (Cathedral)
5:00 p.m., Youth Group
Monday, December 22
5:30 p.m., Handbell Rehearsal (Room 211)
7:00 p.m., Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room)
7:00 p.m., Readers Theatre (Bubb Room)
Tuesday, December 23
9:00 a.m., Morning Prayer (St. Mary's Chapel)
2:00 p.m., Staff Meeting (Bubb Room)
Wednesday, December 24 - Christmas Eve
5:30 p.m., Prelude (Cathedral)
6:00 p.m., Christmas Eve Service (Cathedral)
9:30 p.m., Prelude (Cathedral)
10:00 p.m., Christmas Eve Service (Cathedral)
Thursday, December 25 - Christmas Day
10:00 a.m., Christmas Day Service (Cathedral)
Friday, December 26 - Office Closed
Saturday, December 27
8:30 a.m., Saturday Sandwich Ministry (ASH kitchen)
Sunday, December 28
8:30 a.m., Spoken Service of Holy Communion, Rite I (Cathedral)
10:30 a.m., Club Jesus for children (Sloan Hall)
10:30 a.m., Holy Communion, Rite II, with choir and organ (Cathedral)
5:00 p.m., Youth Group
| | Children's and Youth Activities | | | "My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare they will give you." —Proverbs 3:1-2 Club Jesus for children, Sundays at 10:30 - 11:15 a.m. - Infant - 4 years (Preschool Room – 1st floor)
- K - 2nd grade (Room 208 – second floor)
- 3rd - 5th grade (Room 206 – second floor)
Youth Group This fun group of pre-teens and teenagers gather in the Youth Room Sundays, 5-7 p.m. Supper is included! If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Smith at knsmith@gracecathedraltopeka.org | | New Table in All Saints Hall! | | | 
We now have a children's table in the parish hall with crayons and coloring pages for the kids to enjoy during coffee hour after the 10:30 service! | | Worship opportunities with Grace Cathedral | | | In-person Services - We offer two Sunday services of Holy Communion: 8:30 (spoken only) and 10:30 (with music). Nursery care is available for the 10:30 service.
- A Morning Prayer Circle is held each Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m., in St. Mary's Chapel.
Live-streaming online service Our 10:30 Sunday service will be livestreamed on our website, Facebook page and YouTube channel: Compline Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 p.m., on the Cathedral's Facebook page: | | Find it on the website Here are some links to make things a bit easier to find on the Cathedral website: | | | | |
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