Just as we were enjoying warmer days there is a chill in the air today. Sometimes Lent can be that way too. Perhaps we are going along fine keeping some discipline then we get off track and become discouraged. Sometimes it might be a good discipline to give up trying to do all the things we feel like we are supposed to do. If you are feeling that or just cruising along fine with your Lenten piety, I want to invite you to a Lenten Quiet Day on March 25 from 10 am - 2 pm. I will offer several reflections and allow time for meditation and prayer. Please take a look at the information in this email and RSVP.
Join others for our Friendship Circle on March 23. Come have dinner and be with friends. I also want you to mark your calendars for March 27. That is the Annual Justice Knox Rally at First Presbyterian Church. At this rally, we hear about our issue campaigns and what we will be asking of our leaders at our Nehemiah Action on April 25.
All of these opportunities have a different focus, and yet they are all ways that we can practice and nurture our faith. Like physical exercise, the practice of faith happens by us taking that first step to pause for prayer, speak hope to another, or gather in the community. Take that step and be surprised at how God meets you there.
Peace,
Fr. John Mark
OUR TRADITION . . .
OTHER SACRAMENTAL RITES - a brief Q&A summary of the Church's teaching for an inquiring mind regarding Other Sacramental Rites.
Q. What other sacramental rites evolved in the Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit? A. Other sacramental rites which evolved in the Church include confirmation, ordination, holy matrimony, reconciliation of a penitent, and unction.
Q. How do they differ from the two sacraments of the Gospel? A. Although they are means of grace, they are not necessary for all persons in the same way that Baptism and the Eucharist are.
Q. What is Confirmation? A. Confirmation is the rite in which we express a mature commitment to Christ, and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop.
Q. What is required of those to be confirmed? A. It is required of those to be confirmed that they have been baptized, are sufficiently instructed in the Christian Faith, are penitent for their sins, and are ready to affirm their confession of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
Q. What is Ordination? A. Ordination is the rite in which God gives authority and the grace of the Holy Spirit to those being made bishops, priests, and deacons, through prayer and the laying on of hands by bishops.
Q. What is Holy Matrimony? A. Holy Matrimony is Christian marriage, in which the woman and man enter into a life-long union, make their vows before God and the Church, and receive the grace and blessing of God to help them fulfill their vows.
Q. What is Reconciliation of a Penitent? A. Reconciliation of a Penitent, or Penance, is the rite in which those who repent of their sins may confess them to God in the presence of a priest, and receive the assurance of pardon and the grace of absolution.
Q. What is Unction of the Sick? A. Unction is the rite of anointing the sick with oil, or the laying on of hands, by which God's grace is given for the healing of spirit, mind, and body.
Q. Is God's activity limited to these rites? A. God does not limit himself to these rites; they are patterns of countless ways by which God uses material things to reach out to us.
Q. How are the sacraments related to our Christian hope? A. Sacraments sustain our present hope and anticipate its future fulfillment.
Source: The Book of Common Prayer, p 860
THE CHRISTIAN HOPE - a brief Q&A summary of the Church's teaching for an inquiring mind regarding The Christian Hope.
Q. What is the Christian hope? A. The Christian hope is to live with confidence in newness and fullness of life, and to await the coming of Christ in glory, and the completion of God's purpose for the world.
Q. What do we mean by the coming of Christ in glory? A. By the coming of Christ in glory, we mean that Christ will come, not in weakness but in power, and will make all things new.
Q. What do we mean by heaven and hell? A. By heaven, we mean eternal life in our enjoyment of God; by hell, we mean eternal death in our rejection of God.
Q. Why do we pray for the dead? A. We pray for them, because we still hold them in our love, and because we trust that in God's presence those who have chosen to serve him will grow in his love, until they see him as he is.
Q. What do we mean by the last judgment? A. We believe that Christ will come in glory and judge the living and the dead.
Q. What do we mean by the resurrection of the body? A. We mean that God will raise us from death in the fullness of our being, that we may live with Christ in the communion of the saints.
Q. What is the communion of saints? A. The communion of saints is the whole family of God, the living and the dead, those whom we love and those whom we hurt, bound together in Christ by sacrament, prayer, and praise.
Q. What do we mean by everlasting life? A. By everlasting life, we mean a new existence, in which we are united with all the people of God, in the joy of fully knowing and loving God and each other.
Q. What, then, is our assurance as Christians? A. Our assurance as Christians is that nothing, not even death, shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Source: The Book of Common Prayer, p 861
THE PRESENT . . .
FORWARD MOVEMENT -John 5:19 Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise.”
Jesus heals the man who has been sick for thirty-eight long years. Thirty-eight years of wondering what value there might be in life, of questioning who and where God is, of cursing the very ground from which he cannot rise. I imagine this man felt singularly punished. Why him? But we hear in Jeremiah that not just this man but all of creation is cursed. Jeremiah himself declares the curse on creation: the earth as a void, the skies without light, mountains quaking. If one didn’t know better, one might suspect Jeremiah of foreseeing climate change and related destruction. But even with Jeremiah—and always with God—there is hope. There is tomorrow and restoration. There is re-creation, and, as with Jesus who refutes the criticisms of religious leaders, there is healing and there is resurrection.SourceForward Day by Day
ALTAR FLOWERS - It is a St. James tradition to place flowers or greenery on the altar in honor of, or in thanksgiving for, loved ones. Altar flowers are needed for Mar 26, Apr 30, Jun 11, & Jun 18. Please contact Linda Goins for information lgoins@stjamesknox.org or 865-523-5687.
FRONTLINE TRAINING - Churches want to love their neighbors and serve them in real and meaningful ways. Frontline Training is a 5-part series provided by Compassion Coalition to equip churches to better respond to those seeking assistance with both compassion and integrity. This series helps churches learn to build relationship and walk with families, not just help them manage poverty. Trainings may be taken in any order. On Thursday, April 20th from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, St. James will provide the venue for Frontline 4: Building Better Relationships. Relationships can be challenging as you walk with someone struggling to get by or who needs encouragement when life’s road becomes rough. Frontline 4 guides you by providing best practices, tips, and practical applications to keep your mentoring and ally relationships moving forward. The training is free because St. James is a member of Compassion Coalition, but seating is limited so you must REGISTER to attend. To register for this training to take place at St. James, or for more information contact charmin@compassioncoalition.org.
JUSTICE KNOX - It was exciting to see almost 50 St. James parishioners who are Justice Knox Network Members or interested in learning about Justice Knox gather in the nave following last Sunday's 10:30 am service. We heard updates on the problems that are being researched and will be addressed at the annual Nehemiah Action Assembly on Tuesday, April 25th, at the Civic Auditorium & Coliseum. Garage parking will be free and child care will be available. Last Sunday, each Network Member picked names of parishioners to call and invite to the Nehemiah Action Assembly. So, if you are not currently involved with Justice Knox, you may be receiving an invitation to attend the great assembly. Please accept this invitation! The Nehemiah Action Assembly is where we, as organized people of faith, will ask community leaders to change things regarding public transportation, homelessness, and gun violence so Knoxville will become a more just city, more like God’s city shining on a hill. Your presence Nehemiah Action Assembly will be valuable as we show community leaders that over 1,200 folks want change in Knoxville now. Click the images below for a closer look of our gathering last Sunday.
UNITED THANK OFFERING - The blue boxes are in the pews again! What are those for? They are for the United Thank Offering, and they appear at St. James twice a year. This year, we will collect the money that is deposited in the Blue Boxes on Mother’s Day and again in November. The blue boxes remind us to be grateful for our many blessings each day and deposit a coin as evidence of our gratitude. We might begin to use the blue boxes by saying the UTO BLUE BOX PRAYER: Almighty God, I give you praise for blessing me in many ways. Create in me a grateful heart and with this gift a blessing start. Amen. Watch for more information about where the UTO money goes!
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE - You are invited to another Friendship Circle! Several folks gathered at Central Collective in February for dinner, conversation, and to hear some excellent stories about managing resources. We also had an update on what is happening with our renovations. We will meet again at 6 pm on THURSDAY, March 23. Come and have dinner with old friends or make some new ones. We will hear some updates and learn some new things together. RSVP by calling or emailing the church office. Central Collective is located at 923 N Central St. Also, mark your calendars for a potluck on May 1st.
EASTER REMEMBRANCES - It is time to consider Easter Remembrances in memory of or in thanksgiving for the life of a loved one. This year, there are FOUR different fund options:
1. Flower Guild Fund. Your gift to this fund will provide Easter Lilies for the Easter Altars. We ask that you contribute a minimum of $14 for each Easter Lily you wish to donate. 2. 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. 3. Episcopal Relief & Development Fund: Your gift to this fund will facilitate healthier, more fulfilling lives in communities that are struggling with hunger, poverty, disaster and disease, especially in Turkey & Syria. 4. Centennial Capital Campaign Fund: Your pledge or gift to this fund will help us renovate our space to better support our ministry.
Please submit your contribution to any of the funds by mailing or dropping off the Easter Remembrances Form downloadable at THIS LINK along with your check to 1101 N. Broadway, Knoxville, TN 37917. If you prefer, you may make your donation online by clicking the “Easter Remembrances'' link under the GIVING tab at stjamesknox.org. Please use the “Memo” field to indicate whether your gift is in "In Memory" or "Thanksgiving" and provide the full name(s) for each individual remembered. Please submit your Easter Remembrances before Thursday, March 30th to be included in the Easter Remembrances booklet.
PURCHASING OLD PEWS - As we prepare for the renovation of the Nave, all existing pews must be removed by early May. To ensure this is done in a timely fashion and to help defray the cost of capital improvements, they will be sold below market value, (minimum $300 donation per pew). We are offering them first to family & friends of the church who wish to own a piece of St. James history. Pews may be reserved by submitting a downloadable reservation request form at THIS LINK, along with your payment. Details pertaining to purchasing a pew are included on the form. In a couple of weeks, St. James will expand this offering to churches or other organizations that may be interested in purchasing them. For sure, all pews must be removed from the nave by early May, (even before the new cathedral chairs arrive), to allow the work to be done on the flooring. For more information, contact jwiggers@stjamesknox.org or kevin@stjamesknox.org.
COFFEE HOUR IN THE NAVE - Amidst the construction activity currently taking place in the parish hall and the kitchen, Coffee Hour continues at St. James in the NAVE following our regular 10:30 am Sunday morning worship services. 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. To sign up to help, please contact Carol Yates at cyates0222@gmail.com.
CUSTOMER COMMENT CARDS - From now until the Fall, everyone is invited to distribute Customer Comment Cards where you do business. One side of the card provides space for you to list some of the reasons you support their business. Click the image to the right for a real example of comments recently provided to a local restaurant using one of the cards. The other side of each card explains how their business can support our Neighbor Day Auction. Pick up your Customer Comment Cards in the racks posted around St. James. Please contact Drew jeskepolyak@gmail.com or Kevin kevin@stjamesknox.org for more information. The message on each card is presented below:
Hello Neighbor!
Since 1923, my church has been providing essential needs like food and assistance with clothing, shelter, & other resources to neighbors in need. We celebrate Neighbor Day each year to shine the light on this important work and raise funds to continue this ministry.
During this, our 100th year, we are raising funds to perform necessary improvements to assure continued outreach for many years to come, including expansion of our kitchen & food pantry, replacement of our obsolete heating & air conditioning system, and renovation of our great hall & nave to provide greater accessibility during community events.
From now through the end of the summer, we are asking the businesses we support to help us by offering merchandise or gift cards, or by making a cash donation to include in our annual fall fundraising auction.
Please contact me personally, or our Neighbor Day Coordinator at neighbor@stjamesknox.org if you would like to help us with our Neighbor Day fundraising event and promote your business at the same time.
ECW EVENT CALENDAR – The Episcopal Church Women Ministry, (ECW), enjoys hands-on involvement in church life. We celebrate the children of St James and enjoy sponsoring parish-wide opportunities including the Rummage Sale, and events like the September picnic. In 2022 we hosted the Easter breakfast for the choir and others serving during the services plus the Easter hospitality time after church. The ECW lets our folks in the military know we are praying for and thinking about them by sending cards throughout the year and small gifts at Christmas. Here is the planned 2023 ECW schedule as of our February Meeting:
Regular Meetings - the third Saturday of every month at 10 am
Easter Continental Breakfast & expanded Coffee Hour – April 9
Tyson House Meals - TBD
UTO Spring Offering - Mother’s Day – May 14
Doorstep – Helping Hands Lunch - TBD (chili lunch in the fall?)
“No Fund Raiser Fund Raiser” – TBD (likely mid-summer)
Centennial Celebration/Luncheon – September 24
Rummage Sale – October 21
Trunk or Treat - Sunday, October 29
UTO Fall Offering – November 19
Marketplace/Bake Sale – November 12 or December 3
QUILT "SIGNEES" - Below are the names that will be included on the Centennial Quilt so far. Don't miss your opportunity to be included by signing a "square"! For your convenience, in addition to Sunday mornings, quilt pieces are also available to sign in the church office, Mon -Thu, 10 am - 3 pm. If you would like a piece sent to you to sign, please contact Bea Emory. We want EVERYONE to sign the quilt!
Below, are the names that will be included on the Centennial Quilt so far. Don't miss your opportunity to be included by signing a "square"! For your convenience, quilt pieces are also available to sign in the church office, Monday-Thursday, 10 am - 3 pm. If you would like a piece sent to you, please contact Bea Emory. We want EVERYONE to sign the quilt!
Mark & Susan Abell, Barbara Andrew, Mike & Elizabeth Armstrong, Sandra Austin, Gail Barnhill, Marty Begalla, Betty Bowling, Rick & Lyn Brown, Rick Brown Jr (in memory), Hoyt & Marilyn Canady, Marie Cantrell, Amy Chapman (in memory), Linda Chapman, Caroline Combs-Young, Bill Combs, Ginny Combs, Jennifer Connolly, Bradley Cox, Thomas & Rebecca Cox, Lee Creech, Katharine Criss, Linda Denton, Sue Dyson, Suzanne Farkas, Linda Fitzpatrick, Mike & Susie Gardner, Craig & Joseph Gardner, Charles Goan, Linda Goins, Liz, Christopher, Ryan & Emily Golliher, Cladio A. Gonzales, Joe Gouffon, Stacy Hall, Patricia Hammer, Barbara Hickey, Junior Humphrey, Kevin & Drew Jeske-Polyak, Pat & Patti Jeske, Kyla Keck & Ashley Burell, Sheila & Donn Kurtz, Frank & Martha Laszlo, Diane Livermore, Carla Livesey, Martin Family, Fasia Massaquoi, Fritz Massaquoi (in memory), Douglas McCaleb, Carol McDaniel, Mary McGavock & Damon Beard, Nancy Minge, Rod & Mary Moore, James Moore, Molly Moore & Tony Teasley, Pam Morris & Renee Smith, Mary Muir, Phyllis Muth, Miriam Nelson, Audry Nitz, Mary Nelle Osborne, Elizabeth Partridge & Eric Dyer, Susan Partridge, Mary, Nick & Madeleine Passmore, Robin & Dave Penegar, Steven & Betsy Pierce, John & Susan Pollock, Linda Pope, RJ Powell, David Pruess & Nancy Pullen, Mark Reddaway, Ana Salazar & Austin Patterson, Jill & Rayna Richardson, Gerald Segroves, Mary Segroves, Nick Simson & Eleanor Aldridge & Oona Simson, Jeannie Sullivan, Phillip Szuromi, Maevis Teasley & Zadie & friend, Scott Teets (in memory), Sharon Teets, Cynthia Thornburg, Geoffrey Trowbridge, Janet Van Der Dussen, Ray & (Norma) Jean Weeden, Carolyn Wheeler, Jimmy Wheeler, Tim Wiegenstein, Butch & Carol Yates, Bill and Kim Yearman, Elizabeth Campbell Young, and Gregg W. Young.
OUR FUTURE . . .
QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION (QCD) - Are you tired of taking your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) and then trying to make a deductible gift to your charity only to find out you cannot itemize your deductions? Perhaps a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) would make sense and will save you some cents.
A QCD is a tax-free donation from your IRA to a charity
A QCD is not included in your taxable income
A QCD counts toward your required minimum distribution (RMD)
This information is not considered tax advice. Please consult your tax-advisor for specifics.
CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS - All demolition activity required in the parish hall and the kitchen during Phase I of the project was completed on schedule. The expanded footprint of the kitchen was also completed on schedule. Painting has begun in the parish hall and kitchen. Interior renovation of both the parish hall and the kitchen are expected to be completed by Memorial Day, (May 29). Meanwhile, replacement of the room-sized heat pumps in the offices and classrooms in the parish house is nearly complete. Replacement of the HVAC boiler unit may take place very soon. Replacement of the cooling tower is scheduled to take place in late spring or early summer during Phase II of the project. The elevator and insulated windows will also be installed in the parish house during that approximate time frame. Every effort is being made to minimize service interruption during these parts of the project. The wall in the memorial garden has been modified to double the capacity of our columbarium. The intensive renovations in the nave will take place during the months of June through August to meet our goal of project completion by September 24, 2023. 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! Click the images below for a closer insppection.
OUR CATHEDRAL CHAIRS - Excitement about our new cathedral chairs is building as demonstrated by the increasing number of people who are becoming chair "sponsors". Currently being built in Beatrice, Nebraska by skilled craftsmen who specialize in building custom church furniture, our chairs will be constructed of the finest Northern grown solid red oak. When aligned in rows and joined together with ganging clamps, they will have the look and feel of pew seating but they will be more comfortable and allow for greater seating flexibility. Each of our chairs will include a cushioned seat, front and rear bookracks, and a sturdy kneeler. Click on the first image below for a more detailed look at samples of the wood, fabric, and vinyl that will be used in their construction.
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 recognize a family member or anyone else of your choosing. Access a Cathedral Chair Sponsorship Form at THIS LINK. Neatly PRINT the requested information to be inscribed on the 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.
INVEST IN ST. JAMES - To date, we have secured $635,209 in gifts to our Centennial Capital Campaign - 31.7% of our $2 million fundraising goal.
That's a great start, but we need to raise much more to do what must be done to upgrade our facilities. Renovations in the kitchen, parish hall, and administrative wing are in full swing! 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 are incurring and accelerate the progress toward reaching our goal. Please join the folks listed below who have already pledged and/or made cash contributions to the campaign. Obtain a downloadable Capital Campaign Pledge Form by clicking THIS LINK.
Thank You . . . Mark & Susan Abell, Aramark Hospitality Company, Mike & Elizabeth Armstrong, Asset Realty Management, Brian & Sandra Austin, Caroline Ballinger, Rick Bearden, Marty Begalla, Blackburn Development Group, Betty Bowling, Rick & Lynda Brown, Bessie Burell, Ashley Burell & Kyla Keck, Troy Burns, Chester & Francie Butler, Hoyt & Marilyn Canady, Marie Cantrell, Harry & Patty 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, Theresa DeRosa, Boyce & Susan Driskell, Duane & Linda Dunlap, Bea Emory, Episcopal Church Women, Financial Marketplace, Inc., Linda Fitzpatrick, Linda Goins, Liz & Christopher Golliher, Margaret Goodman, Joseph Gouffon, Susan Gray, Stacy Hall, Patricia Hammer, Drew Harper, Victoria Hawkins, Barbara Hickey & David Linge, Judy Householder & Lou Ann Gaby, Mary Ireland, Kevin & Drew Jeske-Polyak, John & Merilee Kerwin, Sheila C & Donn Kurtz, Charles & Diane Livermore, Carlene Loop & Lew Walton, Charles & Frieda Marsh, Carol McDaniel, Mary McGavock & Damon Beard, Ed & Evelyn Miller, Rodney & Mary Moore, Pam Morris & Renee Smith, Sarah & Todd Moss, Mary Muir, Phyllis Muth, Timothy & Jessie Nichols, Audrey Nitz, Mary Nelle Osborne, Powell & Susan Partridge, Steven Pierce, LouAnn Robinson, Jim Rowland, Gerald Segroves, Kenneth & Kathleen Sherfick, Drew Steen & Karen Lloyd, Jennie Sullivan, Sharon Teets, Cynthia Thornburg & Tom Dunne, Jimmie & Carolyn Wheeler, John Mark & Liz Wiggers, Dean Wiggers, Butch & Carol Yates, Bill & Kim Yearman, and Elizabeth Young, Jeffrey & Alice Zaher.
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. March 5 - April 2: What Do We Do About Evil? Join Fr. John Mark for a discussion about evil, sin, and our response. Fr. John Mark has a few copies of the book What do We do About Evil by Fr. Richard Rohr for loan or purchase for $10. That book and the work of theologian Walter Wink will guide our conversation.
SUN: Youth Ministry Class. Every Sunday at 10:45 am. Classes are open to all youth ages 5-13. The Third Sunday of every month will be a craft class. Please come join the wonderful group of teachers and enjoy learning new and exciting information. Contact: Theresa Russell for additional information.
SUN: Bible Study - Revelation. (Zoom, Feb 19 - Mar 26). 6 pm - 7 pm. Revelation is a book about hope in times of oppression. The word “rapture” is not in Revelation. No one gets “left behind” while others are taken away. It is not about the end of the world, nor is it a blueprint for heaven when we die. So what is Revelation about? Contact Marie Cantrell, Marie Cantrell.
MON: Centering Prayer. (Zoom 1st & 3rd Monday, Zoom or Library, on 2nd & 4th Monday). 6 pm - 7 pm. Studying Sacred Earth Sacred Soul by John Phillip Newell. 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. (Conf Room A). 10:00 am - 11:15 am. During Lent, Marie Cantrell will lead a lectionary study to dive into the scriptures for the upcoming Sunday. On March 30 we will have Reverend Caroline Vogel from Ascension with us to talk about Spiritus Knox. Contact Nancy Pullen with any questions at 415-722-0139 or nepullen@gmail.com. THU: Praying the Anglican Rosary. (Zoom). 7 pm - 8 pm. One 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
OTHER SACRAMENTAL RITES - a brief Q&A summary of the Church's teaching for an inquiring mind regarding Other Sacramental Rites.
THE CHRISTIAN HOPE - a brief Q&A summary of the Church's teaching for an inquiring mind regarding The Christian Hope.
FORWARD MOVEMENT - John 5:19 Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise.”
ALTAR FLOWERS - It is a St. James tradition to place flowers or greenery on the altar in honor of, or in thanksgiving for, loved ones. Altar flowers are needed for Mar 26, Apr 30, Jun 11, & Jun 18. Please contact Linda Goins for information 
FRONTLINE TRAINING - Churches want to love their neighbors and serve them in real and meaningful ways. Frontline Training is a 5-part series provided by Compassion Coalition to equip churches to better respond to those seeking assistance with both compassion and integrity. This series helps churches learn to build relationship and walk with families, not just help them manage poverty. Trainings may be taken in any order. On Thursday, April 20th from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, St. James will provide the venue for Frontline 4: Building Better Relationships. Relationships can be challenging as you walk with someone struggling to get by or who needs encouragement when life’s road becomes rough. Frontline 4 guides you by providing best practices, tips, and practical applications to keep your mentoring and ally relationships moving forward. The training is free because St. James is a member of Compassion Coalition, but seating is limited so you must REGISTER to attend. To register for this training to take place at St. 
JUSTICE KNOX - It was exciting to see almost 50 St. James parishioners who are Justice Knox Network Members or interested in learning about Justice Knox gather in the nave following last Sunday's 10:30 am service. We heard updates on the problems that are being researched and will be addressed at the annual Nehemiah Action Assembly on Tuesday, April 25th, at the Civic Auditorium & Coliseum. Garage parking will be free and child care will be available. Last Sunday, each Network Member picked names of parishioners to call and invite to the Nehemiah Action Assembly. So, if you are not currently involved with Justice Knox, you may be receiving an invitation to attend the great assembly. Please accept this invitation! The Nehemiah Action Assembly is where we, as organized people of faith, will ask community leaders to change things regarding public transportation, homelessness, and gun violence so Knoxville will become a more just city, more like God’s city shining on a hill. Your presence Nehemiah Action Assembly will be valuable as we show community leaders that over 1,200 folks want change in Knoxville now. Click the images below for a closer look of our gathering last Sunday.
UNITED THANK OFFERING - The blue boxes are in the pews again! What are those for? They are for the United Thank Offering, and they appear at St. James twice a year. This year, we will collect the money that is deposited in the Blue Boxes on Mother’s Day and again in November. The blue boxes remind us to be grateful for our many blessings each day and deposit a coin as evidence of our gratitude. We might begin to use the blue boxes by saying the UTO BLUE BOX PRAYER: Almighty God, I give you praise for blessing me in many ways. Create in me a grateful heart and with this gift a blessing start. Amen. Watch for more information about where the UTO money goes!
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE - You are invited to another Friendship Circle! Several folks gathered at Central Collective in February for dinner, conversation, and to hear some excellent stories about managing resources. We also had an update on what is happening with our renovations. We will meet again at 6 pm on THURSDAY, March 23. Come and have dinner with old friends or make some new ones. We will hear some updates and learn some new things together. RSVP by calling or emailing the church office. Central Collective is located at 923 N Central St. Also, mark your calendars for a potluck on May 1st. 
COFFEE HOUR IN THE NAVE - Amidst the construction activity currently taking place in the parish hall and the kitchen, Coffee Hour continues at St. James in the NAVE following our regular 10:30 am Sunday morning worship services. 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. To sign up to help, please contact Carol Yates at 
ECW EVENT CALENDAR – The Episcopal Church Women Ministry, (ECW), enjoys hands-on involvement in church life. We celebrate the children of St James and enjoy sponsoring parish-wide opportunities including the Rummage Sale, and events like the September picnic. In 2022 we hosted the Easter breakfast for the choir and others serving during the services plus the Easter hospitality time after church. The ECW lets our folks in the military know we are praying for and thinking about them by sending cards throughout the year and small gifts at Christmas. Here is the planned 2023 ECW schedule as of our February Meeting:
QUILT "SIGNEES" - Below are the names that will be included on the Centennial Quilt so far. Don't miss your opportunity to be included by signing a "square"! For your convenience, in addition to Sunday mornings, quilt pieces are also available to sign in the church office, Mon -Thu, 10 am - 3 pm. If you would like a piece sent to you to sign, please contact Bea Emory. We want EVERYONE to sign the quilt!
QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION (QCD) - Are you tired of taking your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) and then trying to make a deductible gift to your charity only to find out you cannot itemize your deductions? Perhaps a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) would make sense and will save you some cents.
CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS - All demolition activity required in the parish hall and the kitchen during Phase I of the project was completed on schedule. The expanded footprint of the kitchen was also completed on schedule. Painting has begun in the parish hall and kitchen. Interior renovation of both the parish hall and the kitchen are expected to be completed by Memorial Day, (May 29). Meanwhile, replacement of the room-sized heat pumps in the offices and classrooms in the parish house is nearly complete. Replacement of the HVAC boiler unit may take place very soon. Replacement of the cooling tower is scheduled to take place in late spring or early summer during Phase II of the project. The elevator and insulated windows will also be installed in the parish house during that approximate time frame. Every effort is being made to minimize service interruption during these parts of the project. The wall in the memorial garden has been modified to double the capacity of our columbarium. The intensive renovations in the nave will take place during the months of June through August to meet our goal of project completion by September 24, 2023. 
IN ST. JAMES - To date, we have secured $635,209 in gifts to our Centennial Capital Campaign - 31.7% of our $2 million fundraising goal. 
Thank You . . . Mark & Susan Abell, Aramark Hospitality Company, Mike & Elizabeth Armstrong, Asset Realty Management, Brian & Sandra Austin, Caroline Ballinger, Rick Bearden, Marty Begalla, Blackburn Development Group, Betty Bowling, Rick & Lynda Brown, Bessie Burell, Ashley Burell & Kyla Keck, Troy Burns, Chester & Francie Butler, Hoyt & Marilyn Canady, Marie Cantrell, Harry & Patty 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, Theresa DeRosa, Boyce & Susan Driskell, Duane & Linda Dunlap, Bea Emory, Episcopal Church Women, Financial Marketplace, Inc., Linda Fitzpatrick, Linda Goins, Liz & Christopher Golliher, Margaret Goodman, Joseph Gouffon, Susan Gray, Stacy Hall, Patricia Hammer, Drew Harper, Victoria Hawkins, Barbara Hickey & David Linge, Judy Householder & Lou Ann Gaby, Mary Ireland, Kevin & Drew Jeske-Polyak, John & Merilee Kerwin, Sheila C & Donn Kurtz, Charles & Diane Livermore, Carlene Loop & Lew Walton, Charles & Frieda Marsh, Carol McDaniel, Mary McGavock & Damon Beard, Ed & Evelyn Miller, Rodney & Mary Moore, Pam Morris & Renee Smith, Sarah & Todd Moss, Mary Muir, Phyllis Muth, Timothy & Jessie Nichols, Audrey Nitz, Mary Nelle Osborne, Powell & Susan Partridge, Steven Pierce, LouAnn Robinson, Jim Rowland, Gerald Segroves, Kenneth & Kathleen Sherfick, Drew Steen & Karen Lloyd, Jennie Sullivan, Sharon Teets, Cynthia Thornburg & Tom Dunne, Jimmie & Carolyn Wheeler, John Mark & Liz Wiggers, Dean Wiggers, Butch & Carol Yates, Bill & Kim Yearman, and Elizabeth Young, Jeffrey & Alice Zaher.
