1101 N. Broadway

Knoxville, TN 37917

(865) 523-5687

Pumpkin Patch 2024
Andrew Jeske-Polyak • Oct 14, 2024

The Pumpkin Patch supports this mission and was featured on WATE, ABC, Channel 6 Knoxville.  The 10 am talk show, Living East Tennessee, highlighted our mission, our work and our Patch. Click on the image above, or here to see the piece.


St. James Episcopal Church is deeply committed to its mission of feeding and tending God’s sheep, which is manifested through our dedication to justice, love, and mercy. We humbly walk alongside those in need, actively engaging with our community and neighbors to provide support and assistance. By reaching beyond our church doors, we strive to create a welcoming environment that embodies inclusivity and compassion, ensuring that everyone feels valued and cared for. Our outreach efforts reflect our belief that together we can make a significant impact, and we invite all to join us in this meaningful journey of service and fellowship.

Pumpkin Patch 2024

By Andrew Jeske-Polyak • 14 Oct, 2024
The Pumpkin Patch supports this mission and was featured on WATE, ABC, Channel 6 Knoxville. The 10 am talk show, Living East Tennessee, highlighted our mission, our work and our Patch. Click on the image above, or here to see the piece.

Weekly Letter, 10/03/2024

By The Rev. John Mark Wiggers • 03 Oct, 2024
Friends and Neighbors, Heavy on the hearts of many of us is the devastating impact of hurricane Helene on our neighbors so near. You can see Bishop Cole's remarks here . You can give financially to help folks at the following links:

St. James Pumpkin Patch 2024

By Andrew Jeske-Polyak • 28 Sep, 2024
On a crisp autumn morning, as the remnants of Hurricane Helene blew through, a group of 33 volunteers gathered at St. James to form the inaugural Pumpkin Brigade. Their mission? To unload a delivery of hundreds of speciality pumpkins, and 884 large bulk pumpkins from Pumpkin Patch Fundraiser.

Weekly Letter, 09/26/2024

By The Rev. John Mark Wiggers • 26 Sep, 2024
Friends and Neighbors, I returned from a men's retreat in the Virginia woods this past Sunday night. It was a deeply experiential retreat that I know will continue working in me for some time. St. James came to mind as many men on the retreat shared how their experience of the church had hurt them. I was thankful to be part of a community that welcomes the hurting and offers a healing balm. I am under no illusion that we are a perfect community. We are a bunch of sinners seeking and celebrating God's grace and sharing that with others. We are also people with various gifts that the Spirit empowers us with to share love and grace.

Weekly Letter, 09/19/2024

By The Rev. John Mark Wiggers • 18 Sep, 2024
Friends and Neighbors, Thank you so much for celebrating our ministry together. It seems like 15 years has passed in the blink of an eye. Then again, I can think of some friends who are no longer with us. We have all known some joys and sorrows over the years. I am grateful to have heeded the call to be a priest and be with people on their journey. Thank you for affirming that call and helping me learn what it means to name God's presence in community.

Weekly Letter, 09/12/2024

By The Rev. John Mark Wiggers • 12 Sep, 2024
Friends and Neighbors, I remember September 12, 2001. I recall Christians, Muslims, and Jews praying together in the Alabama town where I served. The horror and shock of the previous day drew people together in solidarity. We continue to see tragedy, division, and evil in our world. We also bear witness to those who work for peace and justice. It is normal to see a rise in connection during a great tragedy. There is also the ongoing faithfulness that often goes unnoticed as we carry on in the ups and downs of life.

Weekly Letter, 09/05/2024

By The Rev. John Mark Wiggers • 05 Sep, 2024
Friends and Neighbors, As we seek to love God and our neighbors as ourselves we find that it isn't always easy. There are challenges all along the way. Sometimes I am the source of the difficulty, other times we encounter folks who cause us to question what this loving is all about. In scripture, I find that the "love" isn't always about affection, but more about basic care for the general welfare of others. Thus James speaks of true religion as "care for the widows and orphans". These acts of mercy are a basic step to showing care. You and I know that even that work can be frustrating. I find that these frustrations and challenges can lead me to a deeper practice of faith.

Weekly Letter, 08/29/2024

By The Rev. John Mark Wiggers • 29 Aug, 2024
Dear Friends and Neighbors, You and I are approaching a special moment. We have been doing ministry together for 15 years. I have enjoyed the journey and love doing ministry with you. I hear that we are planning a party on Sunday, September 15. Some people want to call this "my" anniversary. I get that you guys were here before I was and will continue long after me. Even so, being able to feed and tend God's sheep together for so many years is a true celebration. We do this work together.

Weekly Letter, 08/22/2024

By The Rev. John Mark Wiggers • 22 Aug, 2024
Dear Friends and Neighbors, We keep hearing that we are living in "unprecedented times" or that we are "making history" in many areas of life—a great deal of exuberance and energy centers around politics. The experts are working hard to generate some energy and stir folks up. What does walking in Christ's way of love look like amid all this? I am reminded that the struggle with and for power is a critical part of scripture. In his time, Jesus confronted empire and power by calling people to justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

Paradox

By Vivian Altopp • 16 Aug, 2024
The phrase "Walk in love" is borrowed from a letter Paul wrote to Ephesians in which he discusses the Christian understanding of love: to "Love your neighbor as yourself:' Indeed, walking in love is integral to the Christian tradition; at the same time, essential and secularly connected to each of our hearts. As a young adult, wishing to honestly engage in a reflection of love, my mind projects past the static, screened portrayals that streamed romcoms and pop lyrics are soaked with into something deeper: love as paradox. Paradox as recognizing the relationship between two highly differing experiences which do not negate each other like contradiction does. Instead, when paired together, vastness opens up so wide, we can hold each separate concept in our hands and feel the infiniteness of life swirl within us. Paradox is a flipped coin, currency; a battery, energy. Love must be a paradox.
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