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7 from Kevin - July 2023
Kevin Jeske-Polyak • June 29, 2023
- You may have noticed the "new look" our buildings are sporting as a result of the professional pressure-washing work performed by Top Knox Pressure Washing this month! Trey Gaff and the team at Top Knox demonstrated great care and super efficiency in removing the dark stains that had resulted from years of weathering. The difference in the appearance is truly amazing!
- Making the adjustment from our permanently installed audio visual equipment in the Nave to the completely different portable system being used in the Parish Hall has provided interesting challenges for everyone involved. This includes the A/V team responsible for setting things up every Sunday morning, everyone who steps up to the microphones to share the liturgy, and especially the congregation. Thanks to everyone for demonstrating patience and flexibility during these times of transition
- Every week, St. James generates a significant amount of paper, metal, and plastic recyclable waste. Fortunately, we have a team of committed volunteers who routinely collect and transport sorted recyclables to the local recycle center, including used church bulletins, cardboard boxes, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles.
- The seating arrangement we currently enjoy in the Parish Hall provides a wonderful opportunity for all of us to see and acknowledge one another, even if only from across the room. It is so much more warmer than looking only at the back of the heads of everyone, or trying to catch only a brief glance when walking to or from the communion rail. It really helps to nourish our sense of community and church family.
- The Altar Guild & Flower Guild teams are a busy bunch of folks these days as they are operating out of the kitchen, pantry, and children's chapel to create the same amount of brilliant color and tradition in the Parish Hall we are accustomed to having in the Nave. These committed volunteers enjoy fellowship with one another every time they get together on the weekend to make sure everything is taken care of before and after each service on Sunday mornings.
- Serving on the Kitchen Guild is a great way to meet folks and an easy way to serve our faith community at St. James. We serve up fresh, hot coffee, lemonade, and water to parishioners and guests who have the time to visit during "Coffee Hour" after the 10:30 morning worship service. Kitchen Guild teams serve on a rotating basis. Please contact Carol Yates cyates0222@gmail.com or 865-363-7539 if you are interested in helping!
- St. James is pleased to provide meeting space for
outside community groups, especially those whose mission is to provide support and/or increase a sense of community among our neighbors. Currently, these groups include: Allies of Knoxville's Immigrant Neighbors (AKIN), Alcoholics Anonymous, Episcopal Peace Fellowship, Justice Knox, Narcotics Anonymous, Old North Knoxville Neighborhood Association, Sharing Experiences Together (S.E.T.), and Three Rivers Market.
Friends and Neighbors, We live in a world that bombards us with information. Here I am adding to the mix of ideas and thoughts coming your way. I am reminded of how Jesus often took time to go away to pray. Even without cell phones and constant news, Jesus and those around him were well aware of their world's contentious politics and problems. Jesus spoke to those problems and acted to meet the needs of people. He also empowered his followers to do the same things he did. Jesus took time to pray, teach, and be with folks at meals. Connecting with God and our community nurtures and feed us in the midst of all the demands on our attention.
Friends and Neighbors, We had a busy weekend at St. James. The weather finally allowed us to have our Ministry Marathon. It was a delight to see new and longtime parishioners meeting and sharing to learn about the many opportunities for ministry at St. James. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event happen. A special hat tip goes to Sharon Teets who gathered folks to plan and implement this event. I know that I learned more about our ministries and the people who make them a reality.
As ambassadors to the communities where they’ll perform, members of the Maryville College Concert Choir have a timely message for the 2025 Spring Choir Tour: “Times, They Are A-Changing,” but through music, connections can be made and unity can be achieved. The Concert Choir will begin its spring performance season with a 4 pm concert on Sunday, Feb 23, here at St. James.
One-to-One StorySharing is an intentional conversation between two people who share and receive each other’s stories of what matters most. It is a potent tool for forming community, deepening relationships, identifying gifts, healing brokenness and overcoming resistance; and building a relational culture. It is the basis for Episcopal Evangelism.
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.