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7 from Kevin - December 2023
Kevin Jeske-Polyak • December 1, 2023
- We all understand the importance of keeping our gathering spaces clean, organized, and ready for use. Doing so requires a team effort. We are so lucky and thankful to have Suzette on our housekeeping team! Assigned to us by DT's Refurbishing just a couple of months ago, Suzette works 3 hours on Monday and 3 hours on Fridays, but she works so efficiently and performs such a thorough job, it seems like she is here much longer. We really appreciate the way she cares for St. James.
- Printing and copying are necessary for day-to-day operations at St. James, but we are vigilant about keeping such costs as low as possible by minimizing unnecessary printing and using digital alternatives when we can. During the past 2 years, the folks at Image Matters have been extremely adept at helping us regularly monitor and analyze the monthly volume of copies printed at St James. As a result, we have been able to optimize the terms of our lease contract to reduce our expenses.
- Our recent switch to Clearview Security company has been a refreshing change. Upgraded technology, improved software, and responsive technicians have made it simpler for us to provide improved security at a reduced cost! Clearview Security is a locally owned business whose team of security professionals has been providing integrated security solutions for commercial, residential, institutional and government clients since 1969.
- Fr. John Mark checks all the boxes when it comes to demonstrating what is needed from a great Rector. He effectively communicates the teachings of our faith. He inspires, motivates, and guides us towards a deeper understanding of our faith. He offers guidance in times of trouble and provides comfort in times of need. He also helps to attract new members to the congregation through his powerfully relatable sermons.
- Our
Doorstep Volunteers assist unhoused and low-income neighbors who reach out to St. James for help. They prepare and distribute bagged lunches from our doorstep and provide assistance and referrals for help with utility bills, rent, clothing, and other basic needs. Our Doorstep volunteers also provide assistance to the staff by answering the telephone, greeting visitors, and performing other important clerical tasks.
- Investing can be intimidating, but financial advisors can help us navigate the waters and make informed decisions. They can also provide valuable insight into the market and help us develop personalized investment strategies. We are grateful that Bob Williams is our Church Financial Advisor. Fully licensed by all Federal regulatory agencies, Bob is the Regional Director of Financial Marketplace Inc. He and his team of 4 advisors and 4 support staff do an outstanding job of managing our Endowment Fund and overseeing our investment strategy to ensure St. James is poised to remain financially sound as we enter our second 100 years.
- Our Centennial Campaign Committee has played an essential role in gathering input, prioritizing facility upgrades, and doing all the right things to achieve our intermediate fundraising goals. As chair of the committee,
Katharine Pearson Criss has provided outstanding leadership. Her passion for the project and appropriate sense of urgency has served as a beacon of light and the catalyst that has kept the committee focused and on pace.
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.