Dec 11, 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
Thanks to everyone who made this past weekend a great success. St. James was part of the Old North Knoxville tour of homes. It was a delight to meet neighbors and share our space and ministry with them. We had a glorious service of Advent Lessons and Carols to close the weekend. Thanks again to the many people who helped make all these things happen.
In our Sunday morning formation, we have been considering various words that come up in the life of faith. Words like: grace, prayer, blessing, and faith. We recently considered the word ministry. One parishioner commented on how their faith has been shaped by the sharing of worship and ministry. They were saying that seeing the faithfulness of fellow parishioners in worship and service has encouraged them. That would be you that is encouraging them. Showing up makes a difference in us and to others.
The Advent and Christmas season is all about showing up. A voice in the wilderness, an angel, shepherds, and a baby in a manger all show up to reveal light, hope, and presence. The presence, God with us, is revealed in these things and in you. I am thankful for fellow travelers who help me see the revelation.
Show up for others this season. Show up for yourself, and show up for God revealed among us.
Peace,
Fr. John Mark
OUR HISTORY . . .
HISTORY MINISTRY - Made up of volunteers who have a passion for researching, cataloging, and displaying St. James’s past, we love searching for stuff in “nooks, crooks, and books." We think it is “the bee’s knees” to search the Internet and libraries to discover just one bit of information that may lead to others. Our most recent project was the creation of a stained-glass window database. This huge undertaking took nearly two years to complete. Our next exciting project will be the creation of a booklet describing our history, beginning around 1866 when our predecessor - Church of the Epiphany - was formed. Then, we will create displays to locate throughout the church. These will include photos, stories, artifacts, newspaper articles, and the like. If you are excited about becoming a “Sherlock Holmes-type sleuth” join us on this most fascinating journey.
HOW TO SHARE THE PEACE - 1 Romans 16: 16, Paul tells members of the congregation to greet one another with a holy kiss." The First Letter of Peter ends, "Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ" (1 Peter 5: 14).
Some Episcopalians worry about this part of the worship service due to its free-for-all nature. Some also feel uncomfortable because of their fear of being hugged. You can survive the peace, however, with these steps.
Adopt a peaceful frame of mind. Clear your mind of distracting and disrupting thoughts so you can participate joyfully and reverently.
Determine the appropriate form of safe touch. Handshaking is most common. Be prepared, however, for hugs, half-hugs, one-armed hugs, pats, and other forms of physical contact. Nods are appropriate for distances greater than two pews or rows.
Refrain from extraneous chitchat. The sharing of the peace is not the time for length introductions to new people, comments about the weather, or observations about yesterday's game. A brief encounter is appropiate, but save conversations. for the coffee hour.
Make appropriate eye contact. Look the other person in the eye but do not stare. The action of looking the person In the eye highlights the relationship brothers and sisters in Christ have with one another.
Declare the peace of God. "The peace of the Lord be with you," "Peace be with you," "The peace of God," "God's peace," and "The peace of Christ," are ways of speaking the peace. o spoken, the peace is there. Move on to the next person.
Be Aware - Safe touch involves contact that occurs within your personal space but does not cause discomfort or unease. Source: The Episcopal Handbook.
WHY DO EPISCOPALIANS READ THEIR PRAYERS? - When the disciples came to Jesus and asked him how they should pray, he didn't suggest that they make it up as they go along. He offered them a well thought out form of pray that we call the "Our Father".
Episcopalians, like many Christians, believe that when we write our prayers down we carry forward an ancient tradition of order and structure suggested in Jesus' instructions to the disciples. After all, worship in Jesus' day was a highly structured affair, with written prayers for just about every occasion. One of the biggest collections still in use is the book of Psalms.
When we think about it, even the most laid-back, contemporary worship services rely on some written, pre-arranged format. There's the bulletin, the songs, and of course the sermon outline, if not the entire thing. Sure, there's the danger of written prayers becoming nothing more than hollow words and empty phrases, which is something Jesus warned against. However, written prayers have a lot to offer.
Episcopalians find that written prayers allow for common prayer. Our prayers allow us to partake more deeply in a shared experience of offering up something we agree on. Most of our prayers are pretty old and have stood the test of time regarding the beliefs they express and the clarity with which they state them. When we pray them we are uniting with generations of believers who have prayed the same prayers. Just think of the billions of people who have prayed popular written prayers like the Our Father, the Agnus Dei ("Lamb of God ... ") or the Sanctus ("Holy, holy, holy . .. ").
Think of a written prayer as the refrain to your favorite song. That song may be several years old and you may have sung it hundreds of times. But that doesn't make it any less touching or enjoyable. Good songs age well, and so do good prayers. Source: The Episcopal Handbook.
THE PRESENT . . .
Luke 22:3-6Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve; he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers of the temple police about how he might betray [Jesus] to them. They were greatly pleased and agreed to give him money. So he consented and began to look for an opportunity to betray him to them when no crowd was present. Some readers may remember the 1970s comic Flip Wilson. In his skits, he would admit to questionable activities, but then protest and say, “The devil made me do it.” Most thought the comedic routine was hilarious and laughed heartily, having had their own devil-inspired moments. In today’s reading, the devil makes Judas renounce his love and commitment to Jesus’s ministry and mission and betray their relationship for money.
I’ve never felt devil-possessed, but fear, anger, and resentment have led me to regrettable decisions. Perhaps Judas was disappointed in Jesus’s leadership style. He wanted a warrior king, not a kingdom-changer. Disappointed, Judas let the devil set the course for his friend’s death. But no one is laughing. In fact, tears are coming. Source Forward Day by Day
CHARLIE SHANNON - A funeral for Charlie Shannon will be held at St. James on Monday, December 12 at 12 pm. Interment will follow at East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery 2200 East Gov. John Sevier Highway at 2 pm.
The family will receive friends at Arlington Church of Christ on Sunday, December 11 from 3 - 6 pm.
ALTAR FLOWERS - It is a St. James tradition to place altar flowers/greenery in honor of or in thanksgiving for loved ones. Altar flowers are needed for January 8, 15, 22, & 29. Please contact the church office for information, lgoins@stjamesknox.org or 865-523-5687.
VICTORIAN HOLIDAY HOME TOUR - St. James welcomed hundreds of neighbors from near and afar during the Historic Old North Knoxville's Victorian Holiday Home Tour this past weekend. In addition to providing use of our parking lot as a bus transfer station for parked vehicles, a team of St. James volunteer "tour guides" welcomed and directed an estimated 300 guests inside the church as they participated in self-guided tours. Information stations were set up along the way describing architectural features, historical milestones, and the significance of the 8 major sections of the church building. In addition, a flock of 43 sheep representing the St. James ministry groups was corralled near the altar emphasizing our mission to feed and tend God's sheep, both inside and outside of the church. The information presented, natural beauty of our building, and Christmas themed background music, provided a level of excitement and enthusiasm among our guests that was incredible to feel. Many of our guests inquired about joining the church as they search for the right place to settle.
THE FIRST 8 DAYS REVEALED - The illustrations behind EIGHT of the 24 stained-glass "windows" mounted on the doors in the hallways of our administration building have been revealed! Each day in December through the 24th, another window will be "opened". For those who are unable to visit St. James to walk the halls in person, we will try to keep up with the reveals here in The Sentinel. To view the revealed illustrations, just click thumbnails below for each day THAT HAS PASSED as of the publish date of this edition of the Sentinel.
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.
ONE CUP AT A TIME . . . Amidst the construction activity currently taking place in the parish hall and the kitchen, Coffee Hour continues 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.
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.
WORSHIP AT ST. JAMES - Have you ever wondered about names and/or purpose of the different parts of a morning worship service at St. James? Listed below, in sequential order, is a summary of 28 distinct "parts" of a typical morning worship service. This summary is not intended to represent an exhaustive study of the history and tradition of each part. It merely provides a thumbnail sketch to add texture to your Sunday morning worship experience. Most, (not all), of the information presented here was gleaned from the Episcopal Dictionary of the Church.
Introit: A hymn, psalm, or anthem sung before the ministers enter to begin the worship service. The term is from Latin, “to go in” or “enter.”
Processional: The orderly entrance of the ministers who will serve at the altar, including acolytes, the choir, and others who will assist the clergy and the celebrant. Torches, banners, and incense may be carried to add to the solemnity and excitement of the celebration.
Opening Acclamation: The greeting of the people by the presider and their response, which begins the service. Its purpose is to bring the congregation corporately into dialogue with the presider and set a tone for the celebration.
Collect for Purity: The collect prayed near the beginning of the Eucharist. Its oldest known sources are Continental, where it appears in Latin in the 10th century Sacramentarium Fuldense Saeculi X.
Song of Praise: A congregational hymn in praise of God, using metrical poetic texts set to tunes which are repeated for each stanza of the text. Hymns, (as distinct from Psalms and anthems), have only been allowed in the Anglican Church since 1820.
Collect of the Day: The short prayer said at the beginning of the service to “collect” the thoughts of the people into communal prayer. It generally focuses on a specific subject and changes according to season and occasion. Traditional and contemporary collects for many circumstances can be found on pages 158–261 of the BCP.
The First Lesson: Scripture lessons selected from the Old Testament and read by a lay person known as a lector. The BCP appoints lessons for the eucharist in the Lectionary (pp. 889-931).
To read a brief description of the other 21 parts of the service, click THIS LINK.
ETN YOUTH - 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. Visit ETNyouth.org.
Good morning! A few of our youth and I had an incredible weekend at the Province IV Leaders Network Meeting at the Cathedral Domain in Irvine, KY. We learned new energizers and came back with new ideas for our diocese.
Upcoming Dates:
KEY -- December 11th @ Ascension from 5:00pm-7:00pm. We will be doing an Advent activity and then playing Christmas minute to win it games! Dinner will be provided.
ChattEY -- December 18 - @ St. Paul's. Wear your pajamas and get ready for a gingerbread house building competition!
A few things to note:
Diocesan Convention Youth Representative applications are open! The link is on the ETNyouth website and our social media pages. Youth need at least one reference form. The reference form is on our website.
Young Adults' Ski Trip Registration is open! The registration link is on our website. 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
Trail of Tears Pilgrimage -- probably the first week of June. This trip will be open only to high schoolers
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: Inquirer’s Class. 5 pm - 6:15 pm. For those interested in being received or confirmed in the Episcopal Church. Contact Fr. John Mark to sign up or ask any questions you might have.
SUN: Bible Study. (Zoom). 6:00 pm. 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, 
HOW TO SHARE THE PEACE - 1 Romans 16:
WHY DO EPISCOPALIANS READ THEIR PRAYERS? - When the disciples came to Jesus and asked him how they should pray, he didn't suggest that they make it up as they go along. He offered them a well thought out form of pray that we call the "Our Father".
ALTAR FLOWERS - It is a St. James tradition to place altar flowers/greenery in honor of or in thanksgiving for loved ones. Altar flowers are needed for January 8, 15, 22, & 29. Please contact the church office for information,
VICTORIAN HOLIDAY HOME TOUR - St. James welcomed hundreds of neighbors from near and afar during the Historic Old North Knoxville's Victorian Holiday Home Tour this past weekend. In addition to providing use of our parking lot as a bus transfer station for parked vehicles, a team of St. James volunteer "tour guides" welcomed and directed an estimated 300 guests inside the church as they participated in self-guided tours. Information stations were set up along the way describing architectural features, historical milestones, and the significance of the 8 major sections of the church building. In addition, a flock of 43 sheep representing the St. James ministry groups was corralled near the altar emphasizing our mission to feed and tend God's sheep, both inside and outside of the church. The information presented, natural beauty of our building, and Christmas themed background music, provided a level of excitement and enthusiasm among our guests that was incredible to feel. Many of our guests inquired about joining the church as they search for the right place to settle.
THE FIRST 8 DAYS REVEALED - The illustrations behind EIGHT of the 24 stained-glass "windows" mounted on the doors in the hallways of our administration building have been revealed! Each day in December through the 24th, another window will be "opened". For those who are unable to visit St. James to walk the halls in person, we will try to keep up with the reveals here in The Sentinel. To view the revealed illustrations, just click thumbnails below for each day 
ONE CUP AT A TIME . . . Amidst the construction activity currently taking place in the parish hall and the kitchen, Coffee Hour continues 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 
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 
ETN YOUTH - Here are a few announcements from Caroline Wood, Missioner for Youth and Young Adults, Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee. 
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 
