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7 from Kevin - August 2022
Kevin Jeske-Polyak • August 16, 2022
- The Insights and sentiments expressed by the participants in the audio project currently being produced to commemorate our 100-year anniversary are truly inspiring and reaffirming. Don’t miss this opportunity to lend your voice to this permanent record to be listened to by many generations to come. Set up an interview by contacting Kevin or Drew at kevin@stjamesknox.org.
- Now is the time of year when the leaders of our funded ministry groups closely examine the expenses related to their work to project what their needs will be in the coming year. It also provides an opportunity to consider planning for some things differently and/or expanding services in some ways.
- On Sunday, July 24th, St. James hosted a group of 30 boy scouts and their leaders for an overnight stay just before the National Order of the Arrow Conference being held at the University of Tennessee. Earlier in the day, they traveled from Newport News, Virginia where St. Stephens Episcopal Church regularly supports them by providing a space for the Local Wahunsenakah Lodge Leadership to meet. Special thanks to Marilyn C. and Rick B. for making sure they were well cared for.
- Have you ever wondered what it costs to prepare a nutritious bagged lunch like the ones distributed through our Doorstep Ministry group Monday - Friday? Well, the cost of 2 slices of bread, 1 slice of cheese, 1 mustard packet, 1 mayonnaise packet, 1 pudding cup, 1 fruit cup, 1 package of crackers, 1 bottle of water, 1 napkin, 1 spoon, 1 sandwich bag, & 1 carry-out bag comes to $1.27.
- So far, 29 centennial pledges plus 4 cathedral chair sponsorships totaling $397,166 have been contributed to our Centennial Capital Campaign, amounting to 19.9% of our goal. Help us make a giant leap forward in reaching our goal during the month of August by visiting stjames100.org and making your pledge TODAY!
- Special thanks to the volunteers who serve the A/V Ministry group. Those of us who routinely attend church in person but for one reason or another cannot attend are not able to aptly express how comforting it is to hear the spoken word, song and the faces, (even when masked) of our neighbors as we commune together on Sunday mornings. Even if from time to time there is a technical glitch in the livestream, Sunday Services at St. James are so good for the soul.
- Thanks to Carol Y and Rick B for the extra effort they have been making to clear clutter from our spaces around St. James - especially in high traffic areas and other corners where clutter distracts from the beauty and organization of our sacred worship space. There is still much clearing of clutter to be done, but we are making great progress.
Friends and Neighbors, I hope you have your calendar marked for the St. James Ministry Marathon this Sunday, February 9. The event has been delayed by snow and ice, but this Sunday, you can learn more about the many opportunities for prayer, study, service, and community at St. James. This past Sunday was exciting as our Justice Ministry gathered to prepare us for a big turnout at our Nehemiah Action on April 8. You can learn more about that ministry and others this Sunday.
Friends and Neighbors, Thank you for celebrating with our folks who were baptized, confirmed, and received on Sunday. We all promised to support them in their faith. Supporting one another in following Christ is what we do. Your time, talent, and money help make that happen through St. James. I am excited about our Ministry Marathon coming up on February 9 where we can all learn about the many ways we serve and support.
Friends and Neighbors, What a week it has been. There was football, an inauguration, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We have also continued to experience very cold temperatures around here. Then we see that the Episcopal Church is in the news as a result of the sermon of The Rt. Rev. Mariann Budde at the Service of Prayer for Our Nation at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. Bishop Cole commends this sermon to all of us. I encourage you to read it HERE. I have seen many positive and a few negative responses to it. Bishop Budde stood and delivered the type of message that I hope you often hear at St. James. She called for mercy and compassion for vulnerable people. This is what the Gospel of Jesus Christ calls us too.
Friends and Neighbors, Snow and ice caused us to postpone our Ministry Marathon until February 9. On that day you will find folks in different spots sharing about the various ministries here at St. James. This will be a good day to see the church, learn about ways to serve, and connect with friends old and new. You may be surprised at all the various opportunities to serve, pray, and study together.
Friends and Neighbors, Our church calendar has many feasts and fast days. These days remind us of the stories and faithful people they commemorate and encourage us to live our faith today. This Sunday is the first Sunday after the Epiphany and is the day we celebrate the baptism of Jesus. It is fitting that we are having our Ministry Marathon as we remember this event. Baptism is our initiation into the Body of Christ. All members of the body are empowered to serve as ministers. The Ministry Marathon can help us discern ways we can use our gifts in God's service.
Friends and Neighbors, A new year dawns and voices all around call us to make resolutions, be more productive, and to change our bodies. Sure, some good messages are there, but they often get covered with blame, shame, and exhaustion. I appreciate that a call to be a faithful follower of Christ isn't a call to be perfect. Following Christ is a journey. Sometimes we take a wrong turn or need to stop and rest. The metaphors of scripture and tradition speak of being made well, growth, bearing fruit, and death that leads to resurrection. Faith is an ongoing process in which God's grace is working in us.
Merry Christmas! Yes, the Church continues to celebrate Christmas beyond the one day. Even with 12 days of Christmas, the mystery of incarnation continues to unfold in our world. I see us living out that mystery at St. James by the way we seek to feed the hungry, do justice, and nurture our souls in prayer and worship together. We become those who bear Christ to the world.
Friends and Neighbors, As Advent moves towards Christmas, we are currently in Ember Days (12/18, 12/20, 12/21). These days of prayer and fasting correspond closely to the change of seasons. You will see them indicated on liturgical calendars, but I will confess that even many of us clergy have to look up what they mean. The Episcopal Church uses those days as times that people in the ordination process are to write letters to their bishop. Can a fast that has fallen out of practice mean anything for us in the present time? I am exploring that as I think about the approaching solstice, holiday festivities, and the onslaught of information in our time.
What an absolutely exhilarating moment for St. James Episcopal Church! We were overjoyed to witness a vibrant gathering of 115 attendees, marking a historic milestone in our community's engagement and support for the Justice Knox Research Process. With over 30 enthusiastic participants placed on each committee, we have truly set a new benchmark. Previously, the largest Research to Action Kickoff in 2016 logged 101 attendees! This remarkable achievement is a shining testament to your unwavering dedication to justice and the nurturing spirit that defines our congregation. As we continue to flourish, it is vital that we keep strengthening our connections and expanding our network. Let’s keep this momentum going! Stay tuned for additional information from your team leader regarding our Congregational Network Meeting coming up in February, and if you have those dates ready, please share them with me at your earliest convenience. Together, we are shaping the future of our outreach and inreach ministries, and we can
Dear Friends and Neighbors, The weather and the world seem to be changing day to day. I know how I have joined in the common lament that I don't like change. The truth is that change is the norm, the constant through creation. Advent calls us to look for some change. Christ coming into our world isn't an endorsement of the status quo. Christ comes calling us to repentance. My favorite translation of the word repent is "change your minds and hearts". A transformation of our hearts and minds changes how we see the world and each other.