Over 100 years of feeding and tending God's sheep.


1101 N. Broadway St.

Knoxville, Tennessee 37917

(865) 523-5687

WEEKLY WORSHIP SERVICES


Holy Eucharist I -  Sundays @ 8 am

Holy Eucharist II - Sundays @ 10:30 am

Centering  Prayer - Mondays @ 6 pm

Evening  Prayer - Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 5:30 pm

Anglican Rosary - Thursdays @ 5:30 pm

Community Labyrinth - 4th Saturday @ 10 am to 2 pm 

Blog Layout
Weekly Letter, 01/23/2025
The Rev. John Mark Wiggers • January 24, 2025

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. 


This Sunday (Jan 26), we will celebrate God's call on all of us to love God with all of our being and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We will see friends baptized, confirmed, and received into the church. I encourage you to listen closely to the words of this service and to consider your own commitment to follow Christ, and we celebrate the commitments made. Language is important and powerful. I am finding great comfort and strength in words like mercy, grace, and lovingkindness. We stand at an exciting moment when we can hold up the language of our faith that calls us to turn our hearts towards those in need of healing and hope. 


Many of our friends who will affirm their faith this Sunday have beautiful stories of finding some hope and healing through our parish. Your ministry of welcoming people touches the lives of those who come through our doors. I know that many people have resonated with the words of Bishop Budde and may well decide to come see what we are about. Again, I turn to the service for baptism in our Book of Common Prayer. As we answer questions in the Baptismal Covenant, we are called to respond: "I will with God's help." We acknowledge that we need the Spirit filling us to help love our neighbors. May that humility be the strength that grounds us as we welcome others with God's love. 


Thank you for all the ways that you share love right here in our community. 


Peace,

Fr. John Mark 

Weekly Letter, 02/06/2025

By The Rev. John Mark Wiggers • February 6, 2025
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.

Weekly Letter, 01/30/2025

By The Rev. John Mark Wiggers • January 30, 2025
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.

Weekly Letter, 01/16/2025

By The Rev. John Mark Wiggers • January 16, 2025
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.

Weekly Letter, 01/09/2025

By The Rev. John Mark Wiggers • January 9, 2025
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.

Weekly Letter, 01/02/2025

By The Rev. John Mark Wiggers • January 1, 2025
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.

Weekly Letter, 12/26/2024

By The Rev. John Mark Wiggers • December 25, 2024
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.

Weekly Letter, 12/19/2024

By The Rev. John Mark Wiggers • December 19, 2024
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.

Justice Knox

By Andrew Jeske-Polyak • December 14, 2024
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

Weekly Letter, 12/12/2024

By The Rev. John Mark Wiggers • December 12, 2024
Dear Friends and Neighbors, The weather and the world seem to be changing day to day. I know how I have joined in the common lament that I don't like change. The truth is that change is the norm, the constant through creation. Advent calls us to look for some change. Christ coming into our world isn't an endorsement of the status quo. Christ comes calling us to repentance. My favorite translation of the word repent is "change your minds and hearts". A transformation of our hearts and minds changes how we see the world and each other.

Weekly Letter, 12/05/2024

By The Rev. John Mark Wiggers • December 5, 2024
Friends and Neighbors, Advent has me thinking about time. Maybe you have noticed that the birthday blessing I use on Sundays goes something like this: "We thank you for the gift of time and that you have come to us in time in Jesus, your son." We confess that God enters into time and the material world to be with us and work through us. Advent calls us to consider how Christ shows up and to be awake to the surprising places we might meet Christ.
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