The Rev. John Mark Wiggers, Rector | The Rev. RJ Powell, Associate Rector
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Dear Friends,
We celebrate Pentecost this Sunday. We don't just remember an event in the history of the church on this day. We claim that the Holy Spirit is given to all of us. We are "sealed by the Holy Spirit" in baptism. We are empowered by the Spirit to exercise gifts that share the love of God with others. Through the Spirit we declare that this love is for all people, and that God's Spirit is not just for a select few.
For almost 100 years, St. James has been witnessing the work of the Spirit. A faithful few gathered to form this community. Various programs grew as the Spirit led folks to respond to need in the church and in the community. The Spirit moved us to specifically name our desire to welcome all. At this moment we are moved to take a look at how our buildings support the ministry we do. In this St. James Sentinel, you will find information about the needs we have and how you can contribute to our capital campaign. I hope you will prayerfully consider what you can invest in St. James.
On Sunday, June 19 we will gather for a celebration to kick off our capital campaign and to celebrate the opportunities we have before us. This will be just the beginning of our centennial celebration. Throughout the next year we will tell stories of our past and explore our hopes for the future. We will give witness to how the Spirit has brought us to this place.
This week, I am particularly grateful for the ministry of The Rev. RJ Powell. We will celebrate his time with us this Sunday and wish him well as he goes on to lead the work at the Tyson House. Join us in the parish hall following the 10:30 service. His work with us has been a testimony to the Spirit among us.
We all have gifts to share in the one ministry of sharing the love of Christ. Those gifts come together through various ministries that form us as a body. I am grateful for the many gifts you share. May we all boldly share our gifts as we continue to feed and tend God's sheep.
Peace,
Fr. John Mark
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OUR HISTORY . . .
THROUGH THE DECADES - The buildings and composition of our ministries may have changed, but our mission of feeding and tending God’s sheep has remained the same during our first 100 years.
- 1920’s - The Rev. Eugene Newcomb Hopper installed; Haynes House used for church services, rector family housing & parish administration; Girls Friendly Society formed; Daughters of the King chartered; Church Periodical Club formed; cornerstone on new church laid;
- 1930’s - The Great Depression; petition for parish status to the Diocese granted;
- 1940’s - debt retired & mortgage burned; Haynes House demolished; quonset hut built for meeting hall, kitchen, & administration; current church bell placed;
- 1950’s - The Rev. John Bull installed; adjoining property on north side of church purchased for parking lot; 15 major stained glass windows installed;
- 1960’s - office/library side of new parish house completed; Episcopal Church Women ministry formed; The James Gang (AA ministry group) formed; nave reshaped to form a cross - chapel wing (south), choir/organ wing (north), sacristy & vesting rooms (west); organ moved to choir wing; original altar, cross & altar rail moved to chapel; new marble altar installed; original marble pulpit moved to current lectern position (right); new wooden pulpit installed (left); additional pews & lantern lighting installed; air conditioning installed; one additional major stained glass window installed;
- 1970’s - final major stained glass window installed; Helping Hands ministry formed;
- 1980’s - The Rev. Carlton Cunningham installed; current pipe organ Schantz Opus 1780 installed; VMC meal groups formed;
- 1990’s - The Rev. Joseph Ballard, Jr, installed; quonset hut demolished; great hall side of new parish house completed; children’s playground completed; St. Francis Guild formed; Prison ministry formed; endowment fund established; columbarium installed in memorial garden; current HVAC cooling tower installed; horizontal trumpet Trompette en Chamade installed;
- 2000’s - The Rev. John Mark Wiggers installed; Doorstep ministry formed; Room at the Inn ministry formed; Prayer Shawl ministry formed; antiphonal organ installed; current Library ministry formed;
- 2010’s - Handbell Ensemble formed; outdoor Peace Labyrinth constructed; Corners of Your Field (KARM Stores gift card program) implemented; earliest archived audio & video recordings; Justice Knox ministry formed; regular weekly services aired on local cable TV; Neighbor Day ministry formed;
- 2020’s - adaptive responses to COVID pandemic implemented; services live streamed on Zoom, Facebook, & Youtube;
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THE PRESENT . . .
WEAR RED THIS SUNDAY - Be sure to remember to wear red for Pentecost Sunday. The term "Pentecost" means “the fiftieth day.” In the Old Testament it refers to a feast of seven weeks known as the Feast of Weeks - an agricultural event that focused on the harvesting of first fruits. Josephus referred to Pentecost as the fiftieth day after the first day of Passover. In the New Testament the term refers to the coming of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1), shortly after Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension. Christians came to understand the meaning of Pentecost in terms of the gift of the Spirit. The Pentecost event was the fulfillment of a promise which Jesus gave concerning the return of the Holy Spirit. In the Christian tradition, Pentecost is now the seventh Sunday after Easter. It emphasizes that the church is understood as the body of Christ which is drawn together and given life by the Holy Spirit. Find out more about the Day of Pentecost and our tradition of wearing red on Pentecost Sunday by visiting the Episcopal Dictionary at THIS LINK.
 PRIDE MASS - The Episcopal Church in East Tennessee has announced this year’s Pride Mass will return to St. James on Friday, June 3, (6:30 pm - 8 pm), to celebrate our LGBTQIA+ siblings. All are welcome to attend! If you cannot attend in person, catch the live stream on the Diocese Youtube channel at THIS LINK or the Diocese Facebook page at THIS LINK. This year’s guest preacher is The Rev. Kim Jackson, Episcopal Priest and Georgia State Senator. In addition to serving in her political capacities, Rev. Jackson serves as the Vicar of the Episcopal Church of the Common Ground, an innovative and creative community without walls serving the unhoused in the heart of Atlanta. This year’s recipient of the offering collection and donations is Bryant’s Bridge Gender Affirming Care fund. Bryant’s Bridge envisions a world where all youth have access to full acceptance, safety, honor and understanding of self, and freedom to develop into the individuals they are meant to be, regardless of societal structures that marginalize and present obstacles to that end. Bryant’s Bridge offers a range of support options for LGBTQIA+ youth in Knoxville.
 PRAYER FOR GLBT MONTH - The St. James Praying the Anglican Rosary group would like to invite everyone to join us on Zoom during the month of June to support and celebrate our LGBTQIA+ siblings. The Rosary group meets online every Thursday at 7 pm and lasts about 30 minutes. [Zoom Meeting ID: 836 8961 2206 password: rosary] Anglican Rosaries are available upon request. Click THIS LINK to read the prayers that will be shared. Please contact Cynthia Thornburg for more information - cynthia.thornburg16@gmail.com
 EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY - Did you know there are parts of the Orthodox Church that consider the Holy Spirit to be female? Or that there were thriving Christian communities in China in the seventh century? Have you ever read a whole gospel in one sitting, and felt the growing suspense and emotion of the story as it progresses? Education for Ministry (EfM) helps the faithful encounter the breadth and depth of the Christian tradition and bring it into conversation with our experiences of the world as we study, worship, and engage in theological reflection together. The program provides a four-year curriculum: Year 1 is a study of the Old Testament; Year 2, the New Testament; Year 3 the history of Christianity; and Year 4, theology. We meet weekly online on Sunday evenings (5-7 p.m.), beginning the Sunday after Labor Day and ending in early June. Currently, we are seeking new members for this fall. Contact Patricia Hammer (pchammerwv@gmail.com) or Mark Abell (mabell3368@sbcglobal.net) for more information. |
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OUR FUTURE . . .
 CAPITAL CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF - The official kickoff for the St. James Centennial Capital Campaign will take place immediately following the 10:30 worship service on Sunday, June 19th. Join us in the Parish Hall for ice cream, coffee, and exhibits highlighting many of the major elements of the project. Despite the challenges we have faced with the pandemic, much work has been accomplished since the centennial exploratory committee first met in February 2021. This included facilitation of a parish wide focus group study and administration of an opinion & interest survey, prioritization of identified project elements, selection of a project manager & design team, coordination of facility tours & engineering studies, creation of architectural drawings & budgets, and planning the actual fundraising capital campaign. Come see what it's all about in the Parish Hall immediately following the 10:30 worship service on Sunday, June 19th.
 CAPITAL CAMPAIGN PRAYER - Lord Christ, the shepherd of the sheep, we give thanks for those who have built up the work of St. James over the past 100 years. Give us grace to continue in their faithfulness by doing justice and mercy in this community. Grant us generous hearts to support and build the resources that will strengthen and continue our work of feeding and tending your sheep. May we do all these things to your glory, you who reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. - Fr. John Mark Wiggers INTRODUCING OUR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN WEBSITE - Our new capital campaign website is now open and ready for viewing! Access the site at stjames100.org. Visit the site often for updates on the campaign throughout the coming year. On the home page, you will currently find a cool aerial view of our current buildings. You will also find a summary of some of the important ways the campaign will preserve, enhance, and cultivate our ministry, architectural renderings of planned nave and parish hall renovations, images representing planned furniture & fixtures upgrades; a slideshow to help remind us of our past history, and some very handy links to a downloadable paper pledge form and our online pledge form.
 THE "PLANNING" TAB - The "Planning" tab at stjames100.org provides a summary of the approach that was taken to collect, summarize, and consider feedback provided by the parish through various means, including informal discussions, focus groups, and surveys conducted during the past couple of years. Our current roster of capital campaign committee members is also provided. Moving forward, the committee is seeking additional volunteers interested in helping to plan and coordinate campaign related activities & special events throughout the year, including our big celebration in September 2023. If you are interested in helping this way, please contact Fr. John Mark at jwiggers@stjamesknox.org. With everyone's continued interest, engagement, and support, the sky is the limit to what we will achieve during the next 100 years.
 THE "UPGRADES" TAB - The "Upgrades" tab at stjames100.org provides a summary of some of the most consistently cited interests and concerns expressed by our parishioners during the exploratory phase of planning the campaign. You will also find a list of many of the tangible benefits that will be realized as a result of our plan to increase accessibility, flexibility, and comfort to address these concerns. Understanding that change can sometimes create anxiety, we are proud of the interest and engagement demonstrated by our parishioners during the exploratory phase and the diligence of our capital campaign committee in working with the assembled team of professional architects, engineers, advisors and our project manager to develop a coordinated plan.
 THE "YOUR INVESTMENT" TAB - The "Your Investment" tab at stjames100.org provides an explanation of the important relationship between pledges and donations and how both will contribute to the success of our campaign. You will also find two very handy links to assist in recording your own planned investment in our ministry, including our downloadable paper pledge form and our online pledge form. Four other ways to contribute a gift to support our campaign are also briefly described. These include providing checks or cash, texting "stjames100" to "73256", scanning our centennial QR code, and planned gifts that can be made during a lifetime or after death through wills, IRAs, life insurance, or charitable trusts.
 THE "HISTORY" TAB - The "History" tab at stjames100.org provides a summary of many significant milestones and changes that have occurred at St. James during our first 100 years. It is not intended to represent our complete history. It only provides points of reference related to some of the major structural changes and the origin of some of our ministry groups over the years . If you are aware of some other major structural changes or other significant milestones that have been achieved during any of the last 10 decades, please share them with kevin@stjamesknox.org. We may be able to incorporate them in the list at the history tab or as part of another larger history project.
 THE "ENGAGEMENT" TAB - The "Engagement" tab at stjames100.org provides an illustration comparing the requirements for a successful capital campaign with the parts of a flowering dogwood tree. The illustration describes the relationship between the roots, trunk & limbs, branches & stems, and leaves & blooms. Like our St. James ministry which has remained committed to feeding and tending God's sheep for 100 years, the splendor of the flowering dogwood tree is something to behold - and something that cannot be achieved without God's help. With God's help and your investment at any level, we will achieve our campaign goals and continue to "blossom" during the next century.
 The "SENTIMENTS" TAB - The "Sentiments" tab at stjames100.org presents "Centennial Sentiments", an effort to help preserve our history through a collection of timeless audio recordings. Your interest in our capital campaign demonstrates your affection for St. James and our ministry. We want to hear some of the reasons you love St. James and/or brief stories you can share about some of the wonderful ways you have seen our ministry perform God's work. Please consider taking a moment to call 865-357-0703 and share your sentiments. A recorded greeting will invite you to share them over the phone. Each recording will be saved and added to our special centennial celebration audio collection. Please call more than once to share your stories!
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REGULAR HAPPENINGS . . .
Fr. John Mark's Blog https://stjamesknox.org/rector/
featuring insights and comment on various topics.
THURSDAYS
Thursday Study Group (Parish Hall and Zoom) 10 am - 11:30 pm
Discussing a range of topics in the Bible in the context of current events.
Contact: nepullen@gmail.com or call 415-722-0139 for the link.
Praying the Anglican Rosary (Zoom) 7 pm - 8 pm
Cynthia Thornburg hosts 1 hour of praying the Anglican rosary. All are welcome!
Meeting ID: 836 8961 2206 | rosary
Contact: Cynthia Thornburg or Margaret Bickley
SUNDAYS
Sunday Morning Adult Formation (on break, will resume July 10th) 9:15 am - 10:15 am
Discussions about resurrection appearances in scripture, the witnesses to them,
and what those stories have to do with us.
Zoom Link Meeting ID: 882 1887 6476
MONDAYS
Centering Prayer (Zoom or Library, on fourth Monday) 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: mbick7@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) 6 pm - 7 pm
"Black Elk Speaks" by John G. Neihardt - the story of Black Elk,
an Oglala Lakota medicine man.
Contact: rondmorton@gmail.com for link.
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