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OUR HISTORY . . .
 ST JAMES IDENTITY - You may recall reading a very interesting article in the February newsletter written by Frank Laszlo, our Church Historian, titled, “A Most Uncommon Wedding”. The article described the circumstances surrounding the first wedding at St. James where bride and groom were African American (1964). There was some controversy for sure, but not the kind you might have expected. If you missed reading that article, you can access it at THIS LINK.
In the article, Frank also announced he would be revealing some fascinating historical information about the spelling of our church name in a future newsletter article - and for good reason. Did you know that our church name wasn’t always "St. James", that the name was chosen from a list that included at least two others, or that we were also known by several nicknames? Be sure to read Frank's article titled “What’s in a Name" in the upcoming March edition of The Shepherd's Voice to find out more about this. |
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THE PRESENT . . .
 ST. JAMES SENTINEL - Long ago, sentinels were stationed on the walls of ancient cities where they stood watch and provided warnings of the approach of potential enemies or threats. The safety of all the citizens was dependent on their solemn oath to "watch out" for them. At specific intervals of time, they routinely called out to one another to make sure everyone remained awake and that no harm would befall anyone under their watch. Cries of warning, (or of good cheer), were routinely shouted from one to another and repeated until they echoed completely around the city.
This publication, appropriately named the "St. James Sentinel", will perform a similar function. It will continue to relay much of the same important information previously published in the St. James Weekly Update, but with increased emphasis on remembering our past, living the present, and preparing for our future.
 JUSTICE! KNOX! - This Sunday, February 20th, immediately following the 10:30 am worship service, YOU are invited to our annual congregation meeting for Justice Knox which will be held in the Parish Hall. At St. James, our mission is “To Feed God’s Sheep”. One of the ways we are tending God’s people is by joining with other faith communities in Knoxville to fulfill God’s command to do justice - to create a more just community for all who call Knoxville home.
During this meeting, we will be updated about the research being performed in the Justice Knox committees regarding affordable housing, disparities in education, public transportation, and gun violence in our community. Network members will be choosing names of parishioners who they will invite to attend the Nehemiah Action Assembly on Monday, May 2 @ 7-8:30 pm. If you are interested in hearing more and engaging with Justice Knox, please come and join organized people who are working for a more just Knoxville.
 CUP-A-ZOOM - If you would like to organize and/or host a virtual "Cup-A-Zoom" event on one or more Sunday afternoons, let us know. St. James will be pleased to provide use of our Zoom account for such a meaningful social in-reach ministry. With coffee in hand, Cup-A-Zoom leaders can open each event from home and moderate the online experience any way they choose to promote shared interaction. If you are interested in volunteering to organize a Cup-A-Zoom ministry, please reach out to kevin@stjamesknox.org. He will be pleased to help you set up a regular meeting link for your ministry.
PAROCHIAL REPORT - Thanks to our clergy, staff, and nearly 30 St. James ministry groups for providing vital information that was incorporated into our 2021 Parochial Report. This report provides annual insight into the life, ministry, finances, and membership of The Episcopal Church as a whole. While our Parochial Report does not provide a complete portrait of our congregational life or vitality by itself, the consolidated information from all parishes is indispensable as The Episcopal Church plans for God's mission. Thank you all for the time and effort you put forth every day and for your thoughtful attention to detail when it comes to recording and reporting measurable data that help us track where we've been and where we're heading.
 DAUGHTERS OF THE KING - The St. James chapter of the Order of the Daughters of the King will hold a series of discernment sessions for any women in our parish who think they may be interested in joining. Daughters pledge themselves to a life-long program of prayer, service, and evangelism. At St. James we are an active group of women who also participate in fellowship and spiritual formation.
There will be seven online sessions held on Thursday evenings, 6:30 -7:30, February 24 - April 7. Contact Patricia H at pchammerwv@gmail.com or text her at 304-444-6505 if you would like to attend. We welcome you!
 ICON OF EXTREME HUMILITY - The icon of Extreme Humility first appeared in the mid-12th century. The icon does not depict any single narrative scene from the Gospels, but rather is a merging of scriptural, theological, and liturgical themes from the Passion, Crucifixion, and Burial of Christ on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Using traditional techniques on vintage wood salvaged from our original church structure, Fr. RJ has written the Icon of Extreme Humility as a gift for the parish.
In the icon, we see our Lord Jesus Christ dead and naked inside the tomb, his head slanted to the right, eyes closed, arms crossed, and the marks of the nails and spear on his hands and side. The burial shroud is already folded in front of Him, (a nod toward the Resurrection), and behind Him we see the Cross, (the instrument of his execution). The icon reminds us that the Way of Christ ultimately leads to the cross and tomb – being the lowest point of his “kenosis” (self-emptying) – where the true nature of God’s glory is revealed. Christ calls us to follow him even unto death in the hope that God’s glory may be revealed in our lives and shared with our neighbors for the life of the world. The icon is now installed at the altar in the side chapel. Find an expanded article about the icon at THIS LINK.
 CONVENIENT GIVING - Quick response codes, (QR codes), are gaining popularity as a convenience and are popping up all over the place. Soon, you will discover the St. James QR code on laminated cards in your pew!
QR codes are just a type of barcode that is easily readable with digital devices like smartphones. When scanned, they can automatically open a specific webpage - like the giving portal for St. James! This makes it easy for any member or guest to give online - once or more often, when they are attending a church service. Look for these funny looking QR Code cards in your pew the next time you visit.
Here is how it works: Scan the QR Code on the card using a QR code reader app installed on your phone. Hopefully, you will immediately be directed to the St. James online giving portal. Then, just follow the instructions. If you do not have a code reader app installed on your phone, or it doesn't work for some reason, don't despair. You can still access the giving portal by texting "stjamesbroadway" to 73256. If you give online either way, go ahead and drop the card in the offering plate as a symbol of your gift. Thank you for supporting St. James!
 COVID UPDATES - As long as COVID remains a public health threat, everyone at St. James will continue to benefit from the appropriate precautions we take and the responsible decisions we make. The care and consideration St. James parishioners have demonstrated by wearing protective masks during our in-person worship services has been extraordinary. Watch this space for updates pertaining to the most current CDC recommendations and how they may impact our worship activities and other events.
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OUR FUTURE . . .
 VALENTINE COURIERS - More than 300 local businesses considered favorites among our parishioners received individually addressed Valentine's Day cards hand-delivered by enthusiastic Neighbor Day couriers last week. Using only 100 words, the cards briefly described how St. James feeds and tends our neighbors. They also invited the merchants to consider supporting our 2022 Neighbor Day Auction by donating merchandise, gift cards, or cash.
Gift items are already being donated thanks to the efforts of our "Valentine Couriers", including: Mark & Susan A, Margaret B & SuAnne C, Marilyn C, Barbara H, Kevin & Drew J-P, Jennie S, Jean W, Butch & Carol Y, and Kim Y. If you think some of the business establishments you regularly patronize might support our outreach efforts in a similar way, please contact Drew J-P at neighbor@stjamesknox.org. He and his team will reach out to them.
 NEIGHBOR DAY CONTRIBUTORS - Our Neighbor Day Celebration won't actually occur until the first week of October, but donated auction items are already being received and catalogued. Some of the most recent donations include gifts from: Anakeesta, Broadway Carpet, Cheekwood Gardens, Culver's Custard, Est8te Fashion, Foster's Fine Jewelry, Gourmet Market, Kentucky Kingdom, Massage Envy, Muse Knoxville, Original Louie's Italian Restaurant, and RedBud Kitchen! Please let these business establishments know how much we appreciate their support.
 REAL MINISTRY - Realm is our cloud-based "members only" church networking platform that helps us perform real ministry by working as a catalyst for engagement - on duty 24/7. Easily downloaded on any computer device or cell phone, it provides valuable church information resources and helps us all stay in touch with each other via telephone, real time chat, email, and urgent news feed alerts.
Realm helps ministry leaders organize their communications, share content, and distribute task assignments within their groups. It also helps to ensure new members are offered the resources they need to be put on pathways to achieve spiritual fulfillment. If you have only heard about Realm, but you have not activated your free Realm account, reach out to the St. James Realm Orientation Crew (ROC) at: realm@stjamesknox.org Engagement will sustain our future. Realm will help us become engaged most efficiently. |
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REGULAR HAPPENINGS . . .
THURSDAYS
Thursday Study Group (Zoom) 10 am - 11:30 pm
"No Future without Forgiveness" by Archbishop Desmond Tutu
an in-depth discussion of a few chapters each week.
Contact: nepullen@gmail.com or call 415-722-0139 for link.
Praying the Rosary (Zoom) 7 pm - 8 pm
SUNDAYS
Sunday Morning Adult Formation (Parish Hall or Zoom) 9:15 am - 10:15 am
Examining the incredible life of Archbishop Desmond Tutu in the face of apartheid in
South Africa and the difficult path toward reconciliation for the oppressed and oppressor.
Zoom Link Meeting ID: 882 1887 6476
Gospel Surprises (Zoom) 5 pm - 6 pm
Studying the Gospel of Luke.
Contact: mariewcantrell@gmail.com for link.
MONDAYS
Centering Prayer (Zoom) 6 pm - 7 pm
Studying Radical Wisdom: A Feminist Mystical Theology by Beverly J. Lanzetta.
Zoom Link Meeting ID: 813 3584 8679 | Pray
TUESDAYS
Tuesday Morning Book Discussion Group (Zoom) 11 am - 12 pm
The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World
About a conversation between Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama
Contact: mbick@gmail.com, or call 865-384-7422 for link.
Tuesday Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Zoom Link Meeting ID: 884 2912 1929 Password: Pray
The Soul of the Indian (Zoom) 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
"Soul of the Indian" by Dr. Charles Eastman - understanding of the Native American culture
and how it has been affected over the last 400 hundred years.
Contact: rondmorton@gmail.com for link.
WEDNESDAYS
Inquirer's Class (Zoom) 7 pm - 8 pm
"Walk in Love" by Scott Gunn and Melody Wilson Shobe
Preparing folks for being received or confirmed in the Episcopal Church.
Contact: jwiggers@stjamesknox.org for information, or to sign up.
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