Dear Friends,
Thanks be to God for the folks who jumped in to lead Morning Prayer this past Sunday. I got home from vacation to find that some of my traveling companions had tested positive for COVID. Special thanks to Lee Creech for leading worship. I am isolating this week and keeping testing negative.
It seems that there is a spike in COVID transmission of late. In consultation with the ECW, we have decided to cancel the picnic scheduled for this Saturday, July 9. We had 80 folks signed up and felt that such a number gathered in the parish hall would not be advisable. I was so excited about a parish picnic! This will definitely be rescheduled. We will gather for worship on Sunday. I will be wearing a face mask and encourage you to consider doing so as well.
Thanks also to everyone who has made a pledge to our capital campaign. You can see links above to learn more and to make a pledge. Every gift makes a difference as we set out to make our space flexible and accessible for our ministry. I often use the word "ministry" rather than "ministries". That is intentional as our various ministries are part of the one ministry of loving God, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. Our mission is one as we seek to share Christ's love. Your support of the Capital Campaign helps us strengthen the resources that support our ministry.
The Episcopal Church General Convention is July 8-11. This gathering happens every 3 years. This convention considers resolutions in many areas of church life. You can follow the news about convention at these links:
I keep you in my prayers in the midst of heat, pandemic, civil disruption, and political disarray. I pray that we may be a community centered in sharing the reconciling love of Christ in all the broken places. Pray with me.
Peace,
Fr. John Mark
OUR PAST . . .
100 YEARS OF MINISTRY - As part of our year long centennial celebration, a special video is being produced this summer to commemorate the occasion. "100 Years of Ministry at St. James" will feature the recorded voices of parishioners sharing some of the history and ongoing work performed by the various groups within the ministry at St. James. The final edited video will also feature a collection of images to help illustrate their groups.
Currently, we are seeking at least one individual from each ministry group to sit for a comfortable recorded 15-minute conversation, (audio only),with Kevin or Drew Jeske-Polyak. These conversations will take place in the Library by appointment at convenient times during the week, or on the weekend if necessary. Ideally, all of the conversations will be recorded prior to July 31st to allow time for editing. The great thing about audio recordings is the ability to select the best segments and edit them together in a seamless fashion. Please suggest some times that would work for you to talk about the ministry group(s) with which you are associated. Contact Kevin at kevin@stjamesknox.org. What a GIFT your spoken word will provide to our congregation for many years to come!
The Career Closet was set up to help people find the right clothes for interviews because so many of the young women didn’t have anything proper to wear. - Carroll Minor
I remember my mother telling us about the women baking pies to sell to help pay off the mortgage on the church building. The mortgage was then burned during the morning church service. - Jane Clift
Finding out about all the outreach ministries at St. James made this church our home because this is what God meant for a church to do. - Drew Jeske-Polyak
Soon, and very naturally, at St. James we came to understand the difference between passively “attending” church and more intentionally “tending” to the needs of our neighbors. - Kevin Jeske-Polyak
As a baby boomer raised in the South, St. James has shown me a different way to live, to accept people as they have accepted me, and to find the good in everyone. This church truly accepts you as you are. No judgment here. - Carol Yates
THE PRESENT . . .
PARISH PICNIC POSTPONED - The St. James Episcopal Church Women regret that the Parish Family Picnic scheduled for this Saturday, July 9, is postponed until a later date due to the rising numbers of COVID in our community. Thank you to all who registered to attend and bring a picnic dish. We'll look forward to getting together as soon as we can. Keep watching for updated information to be provided by Kitty McNamara (865-310-3065) or Nancy Pullen (415-722-0139).
CAUGHT IN THE ACT - They are not always aware they are noticed, but some of us see them doing it nearly every day of the week between Sundays. It's called the work of our ministry and it includes everything from maintaining the ceremonial objects used in our worship services and praying the Anglican Rosary to knitting prayer shawls and preparing sandwiches for the bagged lunches that are distributed to our neighbors. The next time you catch one or more of our parishioners performing such work, please use your cell phone to snap a candid photo and share it with kevin@stjamesknox.org so he can add it to our "Feeding & Tending" bulletin board. The bulletin board helps to remind us all how many opportunities there are for engagement at St. James.
CHILDREN'S CHAPEL JULY SCHEDULE
Sun, July 10th – Children’s Chapel - “Proper 10”
Older Youth: presented by Carol Yates and Rod Moore
Younger Kids: presented by Theresa Ann Russell and Lesley Starck
Sun, July 17th - Planning Meeting
All volunteers, directly after church – Conference Room A
Sun, July 24th – Children’s Chapel - “Proper 12”
Older Youth: presented by Audrey Nitz and Pam Barbera
Younger Kids: presented by Theresa Ann Russell and Lesley Starck
COVID UPDATE - KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Knox County Health Department has reported they started tracking a rise in COVID cases back in mid-April to May of this year, just as summer travel and celebrations got underway. To slow the spread of COVID, Dr. Corinne Tandy, the lead epidemiologist for KCHD, said people should take precautions and follow the core actions the health department has always recommended. Actions like masking up while traveling, social distancing, hand washing and staying home when not feeling well. Tandy said it will also be key for people to utilize the at-home COVID tests to make sure they don’t unknowingly spread coronavirus and also spoke about some actions people may not think to take before traveling, like checking transmission rates and recommendations at a destination. “Check the transmission for rates where you are going if you’re not coming here,” said Tandy. “When traveling somewhere else I would just check to see what kind of recommendations they have in place to modify their transmission and be prepared for that so you don’t land in say a big city and you don’t have any masks.” Read this full article, including the new threat of the Monkeypox virus at THIS LINK.
OUR FUTURE . . .
CENTENNIAL GOAL - During the first 17 days of our effort to raise as much of our $2.0 M capital campaign goal as we can during the 100 days between June 19th and Sep 27th, we have received 25 pledges totaling $379,591 representing 19.0% of our goal. That is an awesome start, but we must remain focused on moving forward with our pledges to achieve the goal. While the size of individual pledges will vary according to means and circumstances, every gift will contribute to God's work through St. James. The combined urgency & engagement of all parishioners to prayerfully consider their centennial pledge and submit a pledge card at this time will help us to be poised to begin coordinating construction just as soon as possible.
OUR CENTENNIAL 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.
MAKING YOUR CENTENNIAL PLEDGE - Investing in the future of our ministry at St. James begins by making a pledge to our centennial capital campaign. You may pledge to make a gift in a single payment or several smaller payments over a period of time. Pledge totals are routinely tallied to track progress in raising the necessary funds to support our capital improvement plan. Once you have decided how much you would like to invest, you may submit your pledge by downloading a PAPER PLEDGE FORM, or by accessing our ONLINE PLEDGE FORM.
Visit sjNeighborday.com to browse this year's selection of auction items!
Thursday Study Group (Parish Hall and Zoom) 10 am - 11:15 am
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 Christian Formation (Conf Room A) 9:15 am - 10:15 am through July 31
"TED Talk Sunday School" - Faithful reflection and discussion of popular TED Talks A wide range of interesting technology, entertainment & design topics.
Gospel Surprises(will resume via Zoom August 7th) 5 pm - 6 pm
Studying the Gospel.
Contact: mariewcantrell@gmail.com for the link.
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.
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.
We apologize for any errors or omissions that may have occurred in this publication at press time.
For questions related to any content, please contact referenced ministry leaders or email: kevin@stjamesknox.org.
St. James Episcopal Church 1101 N. Broadway St. Knoxville, TN 37917
100 YEARS OF MINISTRY -
The Career Closet was set up to help people find the right clothes for interviews because so many of the young women didn’t have anything proper to wear. 
- Carroll Minor 
PARISH PICNIC POSTPONED - 
CHILDREN'S CHAPEL JULY SCHEDULE 
COVID UPDATE - KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Knox County Health Department has reported they started tracking a rise in COVID cases back in mid-April to May of this year, just as summer travel and celebrations got underway. To slow the spread of COVID, Dr. Corinne Tandy, the lead epidemiologist for KCHD, said people should take precautions and follow the core actions the health department has always recommended. Actions like masking up while traveling, social distancing, hand washing and staying home when not feeling well. Tandy said it will also be key for people to utilize the at-home COVID tests to make sure they don’t unknowingly spread coronavirus and also spoke about some actions people may not think to take before traveling, like checking transmission rates and recommendations at a destination. “Check the transmission for rates where you are going if you’re not coming here,” said Tandy. “When traveling somewhere else I would just check to see what kind of recommendations they have in place to modify their transmission and be prepared for that so you don’t land in say a big city and you don’t have any masks.” Read this full article, including the new threat of the Monkeypox virus at 
CENTENNIAL GOAL - During the first 17 days of our effort to raise as much of our $2.0 M capital campaign goal as we can during the 100 days between June 19th and Sep 27th, we have received 25 pledges totaling $379,591 representing 19.0% of our goal. That is an awesome start, but we must remain focused on moving forward with our pledges to achieve the goal. While the size of individual pledges will vary according to means and circumstances, every gift will contribute to God's work through St. James. The combined urgency & engagement of all parishioners to prayerfully consider their centennial pledge and 
