Nov 27, 2022 8 am - Holy Eucharist – Rite I
9:15 am - Adult Christian Formation 10:30 am - Holy Eucharist – Rite II
10:45 am - Youth Christian Formation
Happy Thanksgiving to you! We are gathering at 10:00 AM on Thursday, November 24 for a Eucharist. An English translation of "eucharist" can be "thanksgiving". We bring what we have and receive God's self at the table. In daily life, we bring who we are to loving God and our neighbor, and we meet Christ there as well. I give thanks for that.
This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent. We enter this season of expectancy and waiting. We are living that as our space is being renovated. Curiosity grows as we see the old coming down. The work is scheduled to be completed by the end of August 2023. It is exciting to imagine how we will use our space for ministry. Thank you to all who have made a pledge to our campaign. If you haven't made a pledge, please consider what your household can give. Your gifts matter.
May we move into Advent with thanksgiving. Gratitude changes us. In the busyness of holiday events, the daily news, and demands all around, give thanks. We can be grateful that we have a community that nurtures us and supports us. I am thankful for the opportunity to share ministry with you.
Peace,
Fr. John Mark
OUR HISTORY . . .
WHY ARE EPISCOPALIANS SO WISHY-WASHY? - Talk about the bland leading the bland ... For centuries Episcopalians have had this nagging milquetoast reputation. We're not comfortable being in the spotlight, we're often willing to listen to both sides of an argument, and compromise sits well with the vast majority of us. Some people criticize us for being unwilling to take a stand. Others compliment us for our even-handedness. So why do Episcopalians luxuriate in the lackluster? The penchant we have for compromise comes to us quite naturally. As spiritual progeny of the Church of England, Episcopalians have inherited an English proclivity toward finding middle ground between two extremes. It's called the via media. Formed amidst the battles between Catholics and Protestants in the fifteenth century, the Church of England embraced and promoted compromise as a way to stop the quarreling (and killing) and get on with the work of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. On a practical level we all know that the truth rarely lies in the extreme, but somewhere in the middle. That's why most Episcopal churches are known for their openness and willingness to listen. Years ago we promoted ourselves as a place where "you don't need to check your brains at the door," where open and honest dialogue is welcomed. This sense of balance may be one reason for this fact: more U.S. Supreme court justices have been Episcopalians than any other religion. Source: The Episcopal Handbook.
EPISCOPALIANS INVOLVED IN POLITICS? - You mean the Episcopal Church is involved in politics? Of course, and we have been for quite a while. Like many Christian bodies, the Episcopal Church has an established presence in Washington, DC, in the form of the Office of Government Relations and the Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN). The EPPN is made up of some 20,000 Episcopalians from around the country who bring the positions of the Episcopal Church to our nation's lawmakers. The social policies established by General Convention and Executive Council include areas like international peace and justice, human rights, immigration, welfare, poverty, violence and much more.
The Office of Government Relations staff meets regularly with government leaders, works with media, and forms both religious and secular coalitions to further the Church's social policies. EpiscopalIans establish these policies when we gather every three years in Convention. This is when we pass resolutions urging action in a number of different areas, like increasing aid to war-torn areas of Africa or disarmament of nuclear weapons. EPPN sees its work as an extension of our Baptismal Covenant as we strive for justice and peace among all people. You can learn more (and join!) by contacting them at www.episcopalchurch.org/eppn. Source: The Episcopal Handbook.
THE PRESENT . . .
Psalm 100:2-4 Know this: The Lord himself is God; he himself has made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise; give thanks to him and call upon his Name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his faithfulness endures from age to age. Technically, Thanksgiving is a secular holiday, in that it was officially recognized by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. Many people struggle with the complex history of the holiday of Thanksgiving. But Christians have an alternative view to offer. Thanksgiving should not be a day on which we express our gratitude to humanity, living or dead. Rather, we should view this as a day set aside to acknowledge the presence of the Divine in our lives and to recognize that all we possess is a testimony to God’s care. It is also a season to express thankfulness for life and for the lives of the people we love. Gratitude should be offered every day—and especially on this one. Source Forward Day by Day
BLESSINGS AT MEALS - Whether you routinely pray before a meal, or not, here are some simple but meaningful blessings to consider this Thanksgiving, or at any time. They can be found in the Book of Common Prayer, page 835.
Give us grateful hearts, our Father, for all thy mercies, and make us mindful of the needs of others; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. or this
Bless, O Lord, thy gifts to our use and us to thy service; for Christ's sake. Amen. or this
Blessed are you, O Lord God, King of the Universe, for you give us food to sustain our lives and make our hearts glad; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. or this
For these and all his mercies, God's holy Name be blessed and praised; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
SPECIAL THANKS . . . Under the extraordinary leadership of Coach Mark Abell, a highly motivated team of volunteers, known as the St. James Centennial Centipedes, suited up to earn a commission on concession sales at Neyland Stadium this year. During seven home games, including victories over Ball State, Akron, Florida, Alabama, TN Martin, Kentucky, & Missouri, the Centipedes earned more than $3,700 in commissions for St. James! Thank you to everyone who participated in planning, staffing the concession stand, and providing the necessary transportation logistics for the team. Members of this year's roster included: Mark Abell, Sandra Austin, Margaret Bickley, Anne Cushman, Judy Householder, John Mark Wiggers, Liz Wiggers, and Elliott Wiggers.
ONE CUP AT A TIME . . . Amidst the construction activity currently taking place in the parish hall and the kitchen, Coffee Hour will continue at St. James following our regular 10:30 Sunday morning worship services. The serving area has moved from the kitchen to Conference Room A, but feel free to meet up with friends & neighbors in other open areas of the administration building. If you would like to lend a hand as a host, there will be a sign up sheet available during each coffee hour event. Duties are minimal and include setting things up, preparing coffee and light cleanup activities afterwards. For more information, or to sign up to help, contact Carol Yates at cyates0222@gmail.com. Click the images below for a CLOSER INSPECTION of the some of the construction currently underway.
FREE CHAIRS - As you may know, St. James is getting new chairs for the Parish Hall. So, approximately 30 of the REDstackable chairs we formerly used in the Parish Hall are being given away to the first person(s) to haul them off. Please remember, this opportunity is for the RED chairs only. Ideally, it would be great to have them hauled away this week as available storage space has become exceedingly scarce with the construction that is underway.
TOUR GUIDES NEEDED - St. James is honored to once again be included in the Old North Knoxville Neighborhood Tour of Homes! We need folks to serve as tour guides. Can you sign up for a shift on Saturday, December 3 between 4 pm - 9 pm, and Sunday, December 4 between 1 pm - 5 pm? Although access to the restrooms in the administration building will be permitted, the actual tours will be restricted to the nave. Email Fr. John Mark to sign up. jwiggers@stjamesknox.org
REALM PHOTO DIRECTORY - Do you miss the printed St. James Photo Directory? The pictures were worth a thousand words. It made it easy to associate faces with names. Realm eliminated the need for a printed directory by creating an online community where we can securely share information about St. James and information we choose to share about ourselves, including our photos. Margaret Bickley is reviving the photo directory concept but incorporating it with the new Realm online community. If you have not posted a photograph of yourself to your Realm account, or have not even created a Realm Account yet, Margaret will be attending all ECW meetings, DOK meetings, and Coffee Hour to help you with that. Make sure you see Margaret or contact her at mbick7@gmail.com. She'll even take your picture for you!
INQUIRER'S CLASS - Are you considering officially becoming Episcopalian? You can do that by being baptized, confirmed, or received. We will have classes beginning Sunday, November 20 from 5 - 6:15 pm. We will meet in person and have the option to join online. The suggested text for the class is Walk in Love by Gunn and Shobe. Contact Fr. John Mark to sign up or if you have any questions. jwiggers@stjamesknox.org
DIOCESAN CONVENTION DELEGATES NEEDED: The diocese will hold its annual convention in Johnson City on February 3-4, 2023. St. James needs 3 delegates and 3 alternates. Delegates would be expected to attend virtual meetings prior to the convention and to be informed of matters presented to the convention for a vote. Delegates must be confirmed members of St. James Episcopal Church. Please let Fr. John Mark know if you would like to be considered jwiggers@stjamesknox.org
ACOLYTES NEEDED - Would you like to be close to the action in Sunday worship? You can join in the joy of assisting with worship by being an acolyte. We need crucifers who can carry the cross, and youth (boys & girls) 9 and up can join in to be torch bearers. Yes, adults can be acolytes too! Contact Fr. John Mark at jwiggers@stjamesknox.org .
YOUTH MINISTRY - Classes have begun again, two classes are available. Both classes are offered during the 10:30 am Service for youth ages 5-8 and pre-teens age 9-13. Contact our Children's Formation Coordinator, Theresa Russell for additional information, tde444@yahoo.com.
ANNUAL PLEDGE INGATHERING: It's that time of year again. The busy summer months have ended, the weather is getting colder and St. James is full swing into our fall stewardship drive. Many of our members make increased contributions during this time, and we appreciate your gifts. Please indicate what you intend to give for the year by downloading a Pledge Card from THIS LINK, entering the information on the card, and submitting it to the church. You can also give using our website.
OUR FUTURE . . .
CLICK THE IMAGES BELOW - for a closer inspection of the construction currently underway at St. James and make your donation to the Centennial Capital Campaign to help us prepare our facilities for the next 100 years!
INVEST IN ST. JAMES - To date, we have secured $486,366 in pledged gifts to our Centennial Capital Campaign, 24% of our $2 million fundraising goal. That's a great start, but we need to raise much more to do the necessary things we must do to upgrade our facilities. Construction has already begun in the kitchen and parish hall. So, if you have been prayerfully thinking about making a pledge, now would be a great time to help us keep up with the expenses we will incur and accelerate our progress toward reaching our goal. Please join the folks listed below who have already pledged to the campaign. Obtain a downloadable Capital Campaign Pledge Form by clicking THIS LINK.
Thank You . . . Mark & Susan Abell, Mike & Elizabeth Armstrong, Asset Realty Management, Caroline Ballinger, Marty Begalla, Blackburn Development Group, Betty Bowling, Rick & Lynda Brown, Bessie Burell, Ashley Burell & Kyla Keck, Hoyt & Marilyn Canady, Marie Cantrell, Harry & Parry Chase, Scott Childs, Jane Clift, SuAnne Cobb & Margaret Bickley, Brian Cole, Bill & Ginny Combs, Thomas & Rebecca Cox, Lee Creech & Beth Meyer, Katharine Criss, Janet Dees, Linda Denton, Duane & Linda Dunlap, Bea Emory, Financial Marketplace, Inc., Linda Goins, Margaret Goodman, Joseph Gouffon, Stacy Hall, Patricia Hammer, Victoria Hawkins, Kevin & Drew Jeske-Polyak, John Kerwin, Sheila C & Donn Kurtz, Charles & Diane Livermore, Charles & Frieda Marsh, Mary McGavock & Damon Beard, Rodney & Mary Moore, Pam Morris & Renee Smith, Mary Muir, Phyllis Muth, Timothy & Jessie Nichols, Mary Nelle Osborne, Powell & Susan Partridge, LouAnn Robinson, Jim Rowland, Gerald Segroves, Kenneth & Kathleen Sherfick, Jennie Sullivan, Cynthia Thornburg & Tom Dunne, Jimmie & Carolyn Wheeler, John Mark & Liz Wiggers, Dean Wiggers, Butch & Carol Yates, Bill & Kim Yearman, and Elizabeth Young.
SPONSOR A CHAIR - Soon, our old pews will be replaced with new cathedral chairs which are being built especially for St. James. Family, friends, and organizations are invited to "sponsor" individual cathedral chairs by making a $500 cash contribution to St. James Episcopal Church specifically designated for this purpose. In exchange for your cash contribution, the backside of each chair you sponsor will be fitted with an engraved brass plate, (approximately 5" W x 2.5" H), commemorating your gift. The engraved message may memorialize a loved one, or recognize someone else of your choosing. The flexible arrangement of our chairs in the Nave will ensure your thoughtfulness and the person(s) you memorialize will be noticed by a much wider audience than brass plates affixed to the ends of traditional stationary pews.
Here is how to sponsor a St. James Cathedral Chair:
Complete a Cathedral Chair Sponsorship Request Form available at THIS LINK. Neatly PRINT the requested information to be included on the engraved brass plate. Please adhere as close to the suggested format as possible. (max 5 lines) Submit a SEPARATE form and full payment for EACH sponsored chair to St. James. All sponsorship contributions will be credited to appropriate St. James giving accounts. If you have additional questions about sponsoring one or more cathedral chairs, please contact kevin@stjamesknox.org or jwiggers@stjamesknox.org.
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.
SUN: Sunday Morning Christian Formation. (Conf Room A). 9:15 am - 10:15. "Episcopal Basics" - Some of the basic distinctives about being Episcopalian. We'll start by taking a look at the Book of Common Prayer, then look at our liturgy and let the conversation be guided by your questions. If you have been around for a while or just looking to learn more about the Episcopal way, join us.
SUN: Sunday Morning Youth Formation. 10:30 am. Two classes offered, Youth Group ages 5-8 and Pre-Teens ages 9-13. Contact: Theresa Russell for additional information.
SUN: Inquirer's Class. 5:00 pm. Consider becoming an Episcopalian by learning what it means to be Episcopalian. The book "Walk in Love" by Gunn and Shobe will be the guide for this class. Contact Fr. John Mark Wiggers.
SUN: Bible Study. The Acts of the Apostles (Zoom) 6:00 pm (Nov 20 & Dec 4). The book of Acts tells the story of the followers of Jesus after his ascension as they live in the power of the Holy Spirit. Narrow escapes, jailbreaks, a shipwreck, and more. Contact: Marie Cantrell for Zoom link.
MON: Centering Prayer. (Zoom or Library, on 2nd & 4th Monday). 6 pm - 7 pm. Studying Radical Wisdom: A Feminist Mystical Theology by Beverly J. Lanzetta. Zoom Link Meeting ID: 813 3584 8679 | Pray.
TUE: Tuesday Morning Discussion Group. (Zoom). 11 am - noon. Exploring current events in the light of our faith. Interested individuals are invited to join us via Zoom. Meeting ID 816 8271 5668 and Passcode 481655. Contact: Margaret Bickley, or call 865-384-7422 for assistance.
TUE: 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: Ron Morton for the link.
THU: Thursday Study Group. (Library and Zoom). 10:00 am - 11:15 am. The group will be meeting in December only on the 1st and 8th. We will be discussing Spiritual Development led by John Blanch on the 1st and Advent and Advent traditions/practices on the 8th. We will offer Zoom if Nancy Pullen (nepullen@gmail.com, 415-722-0139) is notified 24 hours in advance - otherwise meeting in person.
THU: 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.
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
WHY ARE EPISCOPALIANS SO WISHY-WASHY? - 
BLESSINGS AT MEALS - Whether you routinely pray before a meal, or not, here are some simple but meaningful blessings to consider this Thanksgiving, or at any time. They can be found in the Book of Common Prayer, page 835.
SPECIAL THANKS . . . Under the extraordinary leadership of Coach Mark Abell, a highly motivated team of volunteers, known as the St. James Centennial Centipedes, suited up to earn a commission on concession sales at Neyland Stadium this year. During seven home games, including victories over Ball State, Akron, Florida, Alabama, TN Martin, Kentucky, & Missouri, the Centipedes earned more than $3,700 in commissions for St. James! Thank you to everyone who participated in planning, staffing the concession stand, and providing the necessary transportation logistics for the team. Members of this year's roster included: Mark Abell, Sandra Austin, Margaret Bickley, Anne Cushman, Judy Householder, John Mark Wiggers, Liz Wiggers, and Elliott Wiggers.
ONE CUP AT A TIME . . . Amidst the construction activity currently taking place in the parish hall and the kitchen, Coffee Hour will continue at St. James following our regular 10:30 Sunday morning worship services. The serving area has moved from the kitchen to Conference Room A, but feel free to meet up with friends & neighbors in other open areas of the administration building. If you would like to lend a hand as a host, there will be a sign up sheet available during each coffee hour event. Duties are minimal and include setting things up, preparing coffee and light cleanup activities afterwards. For more information, or to sign up to help, contact Carol Yates at 
TOUR GUIDES NEEDED - St. James is honored to once again be included in the Old North Knoxville Neighborhood Tour of Homes! We need folks to serve as tour guides. Can you sign up for a shift on Saturday, December 3 between 4 pm - 9 pm, and Sunday, December 4 between 1 pm - 5 pm? Although access to the restrooms in the administration building will be permitted, the actual tours will be restricted to the nave. Email Fr. John Mark to sign up. 
REALM PHOTO DIRECTORY - Do you miss the printed St. James Photo Directory? The pictures were worth a thousand words. It made it easy to associate faces with names. Realm eliminated the need for a printed directory by creating an online community where we can securely share information about St. James and information we choose to share about ourselves, including our photos. Margaret Bickley is reviving the photo directory concept but incorporating it with the new Realm online community. If you have not posted a photograph of yourself to your Realm account, or have not even created a Realm Account yet, Margaret will be attending all ECW meetings, DOK meetings, and Coffee Hour to help you with that. Make sure you see Margaret or contact her at 
INQUIRER'S CLASS - Are you considering officially becoming Episcopalian? You can do that by being baptized, confirmed, or received. We will have classes beginning Sunday, November 20 from 5 - 6:15 pm. We will meet in person and have the option to join online. The suggested text for the class is Walk in Love by Gunn and Shobe. Contact Fr. John Mark to sign up or if you have any questions. 
DIOCESAN CONVENTION DELEGATES NEEDED: The diocese will hold its annual convention in Johnson City on February 3-4, 2023. St. James needs 3 delegates and 3 alternates. Delegates would be expected to attend virtual meetings prior to the convention and to be informed of matters presented to the convention for a vote. Delegates must be confirmed members of St. James Episcopal Church. Please let Fr. John Mark know if you would like to be considered 
ACOLYTES NEEDED - Would you like to be close to the action in Sunday worship? You can join in the joy of assisting with worship by being an acolyte. We need crucifers who can carry the cross, and youth (boys & girls) 9 and up can join in to be torch bearers. Yes, adults can be acolytes too! Contact Fr. John Mark at 
YOUTH MINISTRY - Classes have begun again, two classes are available. Both classes are offered during the 10:30 am Service for youth ages 5-8 and pre-teens age 9-13. Contact our Children's Formation Coordinator, Theresa Russell for additional information, 
INVEST IN ST. JAMES - To date, we have secured $486,366 in pledged gifts to our Centennial Capital Campaign, 24% of our $2 million fundraising goal. That's a great start, but we need to raise much more to do the necessary things we must do to upgrade our facilities. Construction has already begun in the kitchen and parish hall. So, if you have been prayerfully thinking about making a pledge, now would be a great time to help us keep up with the expenses we will incur and accelerate our progress toward reaching our goal. Please join the folks listed below who have already pledged to the campaign. Obtain a downloadable Capital Campaign Pledge Form by clicking 
