I was recently interviewed by our parish administrator, Kevin Jeske-Polyak. He wants to interview you as well about your experience at St. James. This is all part of our 100 year anniversary celebration. If you have been hanging around St. James for a little while or many years your story is worth sharing. See the contact information in this email for how you can get in touch with Kevin and share your story.
I was abounding in thanksgiving after I shared my story with Kevin. We have much to be grateful for as a community. We are feeding and tending God's sheep both inside and outside of the church. St. James named that mission years ago and it still names the needs of the world and our part to play in it. Thank you for living into that mission through all our many ministries.
As the temperatures have been high, I have been grateful for our facilities. I am also reminded that our aging air and heating systems are a major priority in our Centennial Capital Campaign. Thank you to everyone who has pledged and begun giving. Please consider what your household can pledge to this project. Improving our space helps us support the ministry we do.
We name and celebrate the story of God's love when we gather for worship, for service, and fellowship. On Sunday, July 31 we will commemorate the feast of St. James. Wear red and come worship together. We will also gather afterwards for ice cream and time together. The story of James is also part of our story.
I am grateful to be sharing this ongoing story of Christ's presence as we live it together.
Peace,
Fr. John Mark
OUR PAST . . .
100 YEARS OF MINISTRY - A special audio/video project is being produced this summer to commemorate our Centennial. "100 Years of Ministry at St. James" will feature recorded voices of parishioners sharing some of the history, impressions, and ongoing work of our ministry over the years. Our goal is to record at least 50 interviews between now and the end of August. Stage 1 of the project will produce a beautifully edited 100-minuteAUDIO file that will be completed by the end of September. Parts of the finished audio file will be shared during our Neighbor Day Celebration (Sep/Oct) and during the Old North Knoxville Holiday Home Tour (Dec 3 & 4). Stage 2 of the project will result in a wonderfully produced 100-minute VIDEO that will include photos and other graphics to support the storyline developed during Stage 1. Specific portions of the final video will be shared in various ways throughout our continued Centennial Celebration in 2023.
THE PRESENT . . .
LUKE 11:1 - [Jesus] was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples."
We are deep into what is often called "Ordinary Time". This long season after Pentecost feels far away from the cycles of preparation, repentance and celebration that make up so much of the church year. This time might not feel as significant as seasons like Christmastide and Lent, but it is. Our readings span from the miraculous to the quiet, even mundane - just like our own ordinary times. Today's reading from the Gospel of Luke holds both the transcendentally sacred and the simplest clarity together in our hands. Jesus gives us the words of the Lord's Prayer, one of the most pivotal statements of faith in all the world, translated into nearly every human language, known by every Christian. Jesus is teaching and praying and laying out a vision of how our lives will be transformed by dedication to a life of faith. And it all starts when one of the disciples says, "Lord, teach us to pray." May we all let God's transformative love into our "ordinary" times. source: Forward Day by Day
ST. JAMES DAY - The St. James Day Ice Cream Social will take place in the courtyard, Jul 31, immediately following the 10:30 am service. Wear RED to celebrate our Patron Saint and cool off with your parish family and friends with your choice of individually packaged ice cream and other frozen treats! Sponsored by the Episcopal Church Women.
EPISCOPAL CHURCHMEN OF TENNESSEE - The Episcopal Churchmen of Tennessee are excited to be gathering in person "back on the mountain" this Aug 19 - 21 to renew old acquaintances and make new friends, all in the beautiful setting of the DuBose Conference Center in Monteagle, TN. There will be NO VIRTUAL OPTION this year so make sure you sign up to join in person. There will be all the traditional offerings of inspiring speakers, great food, Saturday afternoon activities, Eucharist at All Saints Sewanee, etc., as well as newer offerings that were popular last year - - Beer Brewing Contest and Campfire Discussions! Make the call now to be a part of the 76th Anniversary Celebration! Registration is now open at http://tnchurchmen.org.
TYSON HOUSE WORK DAY - You are invited to the annual Work Day at Tyson House on Aug 6 starting at 9 am! We need your help to prepare for students to return to campus in the Fall. We will be providing lunch for all volunteers and tasks for the day include gardening, litter pick-up, and cleaning inside and outside of the building! Volunteers are encouraged to bring work gloves and gardening tools. If you have questions, reach out to Caitlynne at tysonhouseadm@gmail.com or call us at 865-637-2031. We are the Lutheran and Episcopal Campus Ministry at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
HOST A DOCTORAL STUDENT - Would you be willing to be a host family for an international doctoral student who is coming to UT this fall from an under-resourced country? Sarah Elizabeth Colby, (Associate Professor, University of Tennessee, Nutrition Department), has four graduate students from Nepal, Bangladesh, India, and South Africa who, despite having graduate assistantships, will face challenges finding a place to live during this unprecedented housing situation in Knoxville. These students are brilliant, well-vetted, and hoping to continue their education so they can go back to their home countries and make a difference in the lives of others. If you are interested in hearing more information about this situation, please call Sarah directly at 828-226-5116.
OUR FUTURE . . .
SPONSOR A CHAIR - Soon, our old pews will be replaced with new cathedral chairs which are being built especially for St. James. Each chair will be made from solid oak with a wood back and an upholstered seat. They will also have front & rear book racks along with comfortable kneelers. These chairs will offer much greater flexibility in seating arrangements. Five or six chairs aligned in a row and secured with ganging clamps will retain the look and feel of traditional pews. To help offset the cost of this major upgrade, neighbors are invited to "sponsor" individual chairs by making a $500 cash contribution to the centennial capital campaign specifically designated for this purpose. In exchange for your contribution, the backside of each chair you sponsor will be fitted with an engraved brass plate commemorating your gift. The engraving may recognize you, memorialize a loved one, or honor someone else of your choosing. The mounted location of the brass plates and the flexible arrangement of our chairs in the Nave will ensure your gift will be recognized by a much wider audience than brass plates affixed to the ends of stationary pews. If you are interested in sponsoring one or more cathedral chairs, please contact kevin@stjamesknox.org or jwiggers@stjamesknox.org for more details.
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
Reading and discussing "The Inner work of Age Shifting from Role to Soul" by Connie Zweig , Ph.D.
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.
WEDNESDAYS
Embracing Evangelism 6 pm - 7 pm
Daughters of the King sharing stories of God's presence in their life.
Contact: jeskepolyak@gmail.com
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
I was recently interviewed by our parish administrator, Kevin Jeske-Polyak. He wants to interview you as well about your experience at St. James. This is all part of our 100 year anniversary celebration. If you have been hanging around St. James for a little while or many years your story is worth sharing. See the contact information in this email for how you can get in touch with Kevin and share your story. 
100 YEARS OF MINISTRY - A special audio/video project is being produced this summer to commemorate our Centennial. "100 Years of Ministry at St. James" will feature recorded voices of parishioners sharing some of the history, impressions, and ongoing work of our ministry over the years. Our goal is to record at least 50 interviews between now and the end of August. Stage 1 of the project will produce a beautifully edited 100-minute AUDIO file that will be completed by the end of September. Parts of the finished audio file will be shared during our Neighbor Day Celebration (Sep/Oct) and during the Old North Knoxville Holiday Home Tour (Dec 3 & 4). Stage 2 of the project will result in a wonderfully produced 100-minute VIDEO that will include photos and other graphics to support the storyline developed during Stage 1. Specific portions of the final video will be shared in various ways throughout our continued Centennial Celebration in 2023.
ST. JAMES DAY - The St. James Day Ice Cream Social will take place in the courtyard, Jul 31, immediately following the 10:30 am service. Wear RED to celebrate our Patron Saint and cool off with your parish family and friends with your choice of individually packaged ice cream and other frozen treats! Sponsored by the Episcopal Church Women.
EPISCOPAL CHURCHMEN OF TENNESSEE - The Episcopal Churchmen of Tennessee are excited to be gathering in person "back on the mountain" this Aug 19 - 21 to renew old acquaintances and make new friends, all in the beautiful setting of the DuBose Conference Center in Monteagle, TN. There will be NO VIRTUAL OPTION this year so make sure you sign up to join in person. There will be all the traditional offerings of inspiring speakers, great food, Saturday afternoon activities, Eucharist at All Saints Sewanee, etc., as well as newer offerings that were popular last year - - Beer Brewing Contest and Campfire Discussions! Make the call now to be a part of the 76th Anniversary Celebration! Registration is now open at 
TYSON HOUSE WORK DAY - You are invited to the annual Work Day at Tyson House on Aug 6 starting at 9 am! We need your help to prepare for students to return to campus in the Fall. We will be providing lunch for all volunteers and tasks for the day include gardening, litter pick-up, and cleaning inside and outside of the building! Volunteers are encouraged to bring work gloves and gardening tools. If you have questions, reach out to Caitlynne at 
SPONSOR A CHAIR - Soon, our old pews will be replaced with new cathedral chairs which are being built especially for St. James. Each chair will be made from solid oak with a wood back and an upholstered seat. They will also have front & rear book racks along with comfortable kneelers. These chairs will offer much greater flexibility in seating arrangements. Five or six chairs aligned in a row and secured with ganging clamps will retain the look and feel of traditional pews. To help offset the cost of this major upgrade, neighbors are invited to "sponsor" individual chairs by making a $500 cash contribution to the centennial capital campaign specifically designated for this purpose. In exchange for your contribution, the backside of each chair you sponsor will be fitted with an engraved brass plate commemorating your gift. The engraving may recognize you, memorialize a loved one, or honor someone else of your choosing. The mounted location of the brass plates and the flexible arrangement of our chairs in the Nave will ensure your gift will be recognized by a much wider audience than brass plates affixed to the ends of stationary pews. If you are interested in sponsoring one or more cathedral chairs, please contact 
