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Share Your Story
Andrew Jeske-Polyak • February 12, 2025
Share the Story, that is Episcopal Evangelism
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.
Episcopal evangelism is the practice of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ within the context of the Episcopal Church. It is rooted in the Baptismal Covenant, where Episcopalians promise to "proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ." and the Post Communion Prayer to ". . . send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord."
Here are some key aspects of Episcopal evangelism:
- Seeking, naming, and celebrating Jesus' presence: This involves recognizing and honoring the ways in which God is already at work in our lives.
- Inviting others to "MORE": This means sharing your story, of your experiences with God, through simple conversation with people you feel comfortable with, most often in 1-on-1 setting.
- Emphasis on relationships: Episcopal evangelism prioritizes building authentic relationships with others, listening to their stories, and sharing one's own experiences of faith.
- Actions and words: It involves both proclaiming the Gospel through words and demonstrating it through acts of love, justice, and service.
- Inclusivity and welcome: The Episcopal Church strives to be a welcoming and inclusive community for all people, regardless of their background or beliefs.
It does not mean standing on street corner and professing the Bible. Episcopal Evangelism is one-on-one story sharing.
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.
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