Dec 4, 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
A new month dawns! The year draws to a close. For many of us, we are keeping busy with the many tasks of the holidays. Some of those tasks include churchy things. I pray that we won't find gathering to pray and celebrate the incarnation as yet another obligation. In fact, I pray that we might see the things that feel obligatory as opportunities to see Christ revealed in the world.
Several folks will be offering hospitality this Saturday and Sunday as St. James is part of the Old North Knoxville holiday tour of homes. You will notice some signs and displays in the nave on Sunday that are part of the self-guided tour. Join us at 4:00 on Sunday for Advent Lessons and Carols. Our beautiful space and the resonant prayers therein can reveal Christ too.
Making room to welcome others is a way of making room for Christ. My imagination has taken a tour of the space that will be when our renovation is completed. A lift will allow for more accessible usage of our rooms. New windows and a new heat and air system will provide for a more efficient use of resources. An updated kitchen and parish hall will be a space for Helping Hands meals, recovery groups, and parish celebrations. Our nave will be more flexible and allow for all sorts of processing, praising, dancing, and worship. All of that will be making space for us to meet Christ.
The calendar may be full. There are to-do lists, gifts to buy, and cards to send. You have room to look for Christ in others, and to serve him there. In doing so, we make room for Christ in our hearts. Blessed Advent.
Peace,
John Mark
OUR HISTORY . . .
EPISCOPAL CHURCH - CATHOLIC LITE? - It's both a catchy joke and an apt description - Catholic Lite.
Comedian Robin Williams (an Episcopalian) popularized this term in an interview when, referring to a beer commercial, he described Catholic Lite as "same rituals, half the guilt." Like all jokes, there's a nugget of truth in there, and one we're rather proud of.
The Episcopal Church is a proud descendant of the Church of England, which was rooted in the Roman Catholic Church. A variety of factors led to this split some 500 years ago, and it's one that we're still working to heal. But we are indebted and appreciative of the many rituals, traditions, and ways of believing in Christ that have come to us through our Catholic roots.
And like the Roman Catholic Church, the Episcopal Church has changed and evolved. We have come down on the same side of most issues, and on different sides of others. We are perceived as being less strict, allowing priests to marry and non-Episcopalians to take Holy Communion, and publicly allowing a wider breadth of acceptable belief and practice than one might find in a Roman Catholic Church.
However, the idea that being an Episcopalian lacks rigor and demand is the down side to Williams' description. There is nothing "lite" about being a Christian, no matter what denomination one might choose. Episcopalians promise in their baptisms to pray, take communion, and to spread the Gospel just like most other Christians. Source: The Episcopal Handbook.
ALL THOSE BOOKS - Episcopalians are a people of the book. Actually, several books.
While the Bible is the foundation of our library, it is not the only book we rely on to help us worship. That's why you'll find several books in the pews of most Episcopal churches.
The most common (by far) is the 1979 edition of The Book of Common Prayer. Inside you'll find over 1,000 pages of some of the richest and most beautiful liturgies ever written. In addition to Sunday morning worship services, there are baptism, wedding, and funeral services, prayers, historical documents, and much more. It abounds in scriptural imagery and phraseology. We like to think of the Book of Common Prayer as the Bible rearranged for worship. A second book is The Hymnal 1982. This includes a rich collection of more than 700 hymns. Some of these are more than one thousand years old. Others are just a few decades new. One thing they all have in common is that they're widely considered to be some of the best worship music that's ever been written - not just in the last twenty years, but in the last twenty centuries. Source: The Episcopal Handbook.
THE PRESENT . . .
Luke 20:29-33aNow there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; then the second and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be?
I grew up in rural West Virginia. Who was married to whom was important information and often a part of family conversation. When it came to extended family, second and third cousins once removed mattered. This conversation between the Sadducees and Jesus isn’t a friendly family discussion. The Sadducees don’t believe in a resurrection of the body, so they use ridiculous rhetorical questions to try to trick Jesus into failing to interpret the Jewish law correctly. But Jesus knows the heart of God and his answer expands on the law by reminding them that God is the God of the living. The Sadducees are impressed and speechless. God answers our rhetorical questions in surprising ways when we listen and pay attention.Source Forward Day by Day
DECK THE HALLS - Eight doors in the hallways of our administration building have been "converted" into the largest advent calendar St. James has ever seen! Each door, decorated by the staff, features three images of our stained glass windows. Behind each window is an illustration related to the Christmas Story contributed by the staff. Every day from December 1 through December 24, another window will be "opened" revealing the illustration behind it. For those who are unable to visit St. James to see the decorations in person, we will try to keep up with the reveals here in The Sentinel. Each week, just CLICK EACH DAY BELOW that has passed to view the illustration behind the stained glass.
ADVENT LESSONS & CAROLS - Lessons & Carols services in the Anglican tradition began in 1878 and was formalized as a Christmas service in 1880 by the Bishop of Truro, later Archbishop of Canterbury, Edward Benson. An Advent version of the service – normally carried out as a procession with lessons and carols – developed slightly later at King’s College and is now celebrated around the world, normally as an evening service on the first or second Sunday in the season of Advent. During the service, scriptural readings are interspersed with choral presentations and hymn, all of which recall mankind’s longing for liberation from sin and death, and our hope and expectation for both the first and second coming of Christ the Lord. This year, Advent Lessons & Carols will be incorporated into the Historic Old North Knoxville Home Christmas Home Tour on the Second Sunday of Advent, December 4 at 4 pm. We encourage you to come and experience the beauty of the Advent season.
COME TO THE HOME TOUR - St. James is honored to once again be included in the Old North Knoxville Neighborhood Tour of Homes! Come visit Saturday, December 3 between 4 pm - 9 pm, or Sunday, December 4 between 1 pm - 5 pm. Due to the construction underway in the administration building, the tour will be restricted to the nave.
ETN YOUTH - Good morning! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and are still enjoying yummy leftovers! Here are a few announcements from Caroline Wood, Missioner for Youth and Young Adults, Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee. cwood@dioet.org 865-966-2110 Ext. 119
Diocesan Convention Youth Representative applications open this week. The link will be on the ETNyouth.org website and our social media pages. Applications will be due January 6th.
Young Adults' Ski Trip Registration is open! The registration link is at ETNyouth.org. This trip is open to college students through adults in their early thirties.
Happening Lay Rector applications will open in January for Happening #84. The next lay rector will be announced at Happening #83. If you'd like more details on this process, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Diocesan Convention--February 3-4 at St. John's Johnson City
Happening #83--March 24-26
New Beginnings #6--April 14-16
Vocare #3--April 28-30
Senior Celebration--May 12-13 at Grace Point
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.
CHRISTMAS REMEMBRANCES - It is time to consider Christmas Remembrances in memory of or in thanksgiving for the life of a loved one. This year, there are FOUR different fund options:
Flower Guild Fund. Your gift to this fund will provide poinsettias for the Christmas Altars. We ask that you contribute a minimum of $16 for each poinsettia you wish to donate.
Clergy Discretionary Fund. Your gift to this fund allows the Clergy at St. James to meet needs quickly, including emergency housing, transportation, & health-related needs.
Battlefield Farm Fund: Your gift to this fund will benefit Battlefield Farm, a local farm "fighting food disparity and building community" by educating people on food disparity, farming, and community building.
Capital Campaign Fund. Your pledge or gift to this fund will help us renovate our space to better support our ministry.
For complete details on how to submit your Christmas Remembrances, click THIS LINK.
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.
FOR SALE - The ECW has a few leftover t-shirts and polos, $5.00 each: T-shirts: 1 small or child's large, 3 2X-large. Polos: 6 small/child's large. Also remaining from the auction and Marketplace are two sets of 4-place setting stoneware snowman dishes. New in boxes but boxes have wear. Price: $5 each or both for $8. Contact Kitty at 865-310-3065 to make arrangements to purchase.
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.
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 jwiggers@stjamesknox.org 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 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 .
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 $491,906 in pledged gifts to our Centennial Capital Campaign, approximately 25% 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, Brian & Sandra Austin, 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 Fitzpatrick, 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, Audrey Nitz, 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: Lessons & Carols. December 4, 4:00 pm. This year, Advent Lessons & Carols will be incorporated into the Historic Old North Knoxville Home Christmas Home Tour. We encourage you to come and experience the beauty of the Advent season.
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
Dear Friends,
EPISCOPAL CHURCH - CATHOLIC LITE? -
DECK THE HALLS - Eight doors in the hallways of our administration building have been "converted" into the largest advent calendar St. James has ever seen! Each door, decorated by the staff, features three images of our stained glass windows. Behind each window is an illustration related to the Christmas Story contributed by the staff. Every day from December 1 through December 24, another window will be "opened" revealing the illustration behind it. For those who are unable to visit St. James to see the decorations in person, we will try to keep up with the reveals here in The Sentinel. Each week, just 
COME TO THE HOME
ETN YOUTH - Good morning! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and are still enjoying yummy leftovers! Here are a few announcements from Caroline Wood, Missioner for Youth and Young Adults, Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee. 
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.
FOR SALE - The ECW has a few leftover t-shirts and polos, $5.00 each: T-shirts: 1 small or child's large, 3 2X-large. Polos: 6 small/child's large. Also remaining from the auction and Marketplace are two sets of 4-place setting stoneware snowman dishes. New in boxes but boxes have wear. Price: $5 each or both for $8. Contact Kitty at 865-310-3065 to make arrangements to purchase. 
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 
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 
INVEST IN ST. JAMES - To date, we have secured $491,906 in pledged gifts to our Centennial Capital Campaign, approximately 25% 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 
