• On the rare occasions when there is a power outage due to storms or other  unforeseen events, it is important to have working battery powered emergency lights, especially in our hallways. Recently, Butch & Carol Y have installed twelve new LED emergency lights in the administration building and the church. 

• Increasingly, online accessibility to the video stream of live Sunday morning worship services is becoming more and more important to neighbors who cannot attend in person. Recently, Margaret B and Nick S have successfully added video production, including robotic operation of our video camera, to their ever-expanding audio/visual production skill sets. 

• One day, we will return to social gatherings that will include refreshments prepared in our kitchen. Recently, Patty C, Jane C, and Carol Y contributed some of their time to reorganize the pantry where pots & pans, paper goods, and other important nonfood kitchen supplies are stored. Keeping this pantry neat and organized helps us to be efficient and save money too. 

• Communicating task assignments and coordinating information flow at St. James is an invigorating challenge every week. Linda G works very hard with ministry leaders to edit, proof, publish, and distribute all submitted information by Thursday morning every week. To assist in this regard, our ministry leaders embrace the responsibility to be proactive and submit their information on time. 

• Navigating through the accommodations being made to allow all key holders to  obtain or renew “Safeguarding God’s Children” certifications online has been made smoother thanks to Caroline W at the Diocese. To date, 33 of our parishioners have completed the training. Bravo! If you hold a key and have not already done so, please access THIS LINK, dioet.org/safe-church/, to register for the online training. 

• Linda D and the St. Francis Guild have lovingly placed a young Sugar Tyme Crabapple Tree in the heart-shaped garden bed at the front entrance to the church.  Our new tree has superior disease resistance and will look pretty all year with  gorgeous pink buds and white flowers in Spring, dark green summer leaves, and a golden-yellow Fall color. Shiny, ornamental, red fruit will persist throughout the  Winter. Butterflies will love this flowering tree! 

• Every week, our altar is adorned with beautiful bouquets of fresh flowers elegantly arranged by Bea E and our creative St. James Flower Guild. Altar flowers provide a wonderful way to express gratitude and memorialize friends and family. A  donation in the amount of $60 is requested for these memorials. To request a  dedication of altar flowers to someone special in your life, contact Linda G at the church office, 865-523-5687 or lgoins@stjamesknox.org.

Thanks to everyone for becoming engaged in our mission at St. James at whatever level they are able, including all effort that is noticed and so much more that may be less noticed.  Rest assured, nothing is unnoticed by God and St. James is stronger because of everyone's combined effort.