I was glad when they said unto me "Let us gather for a potluck." (John Mark 2:15)
We had a great potluck in the nave Monday night as we gathered for another Friendship Circle. It is good to be together. We will gather again for a potluck after our 10:30 worship time on Sunday, June 4. This time we will be in our renovated parish hall. I say we spend all summer looking for ways to come together.
Many things are moving around over the next few weeks. Our last Eucharist in the nave will be May 14. After that, we will worship in the parish hall throughout the summer. We will also continue to feed and tend God's sheep through all the changes. I look forward to making use of the new spaces and finding creative ways to use our resources tho share the love of Christ. Thank you for sharing your resources to support the work we do together. As summer approaches I remind us all to keep up with our pledges to the general budget and the capital campaign. (We will also watch the utility bills now that the new HVAC and windows are in.)
At our Friendship Circle this past Monday, I felt and shared the reality that St. James has long been a welcoming place. We continue to learn what it means to welcome. All around us, we see efforts to draw hard boundaries to exclude, harm, and diminish others. St. James has been a community where people have found welcome and healing. we speak and act from a place of seeking to share the love of Christ. We do justice and mercy while we also celebrate being together.
Peace,
Fr. John Mark
OUR TRADITION . . .
MUSIC - St. James has a long tradition of providing inspirational music as part of our morning worship services - both vocal and instrumental. Now, The St. James Sentinel, includes a clickable link that provides a clip of actual service music from a previous week. The link can be found at the top of the page in the same area as the links for this week's service booklet, prayers, and current Newsletter. Enjoy!
TWO WEEKS REMAINING - There are only 2 weeks remaining to claim one of the old pews in the Nave. Available for purchase for a minimum $300 donation to the church, several pews have already been purchased by church family members. Two (2) of the remaining pews can be shortened. Any of the rest must remain full length. All pews must be claimed and picked up prior to May 21st. If you know someone else who may be interested in purchasing one or more pews, let them know now, before it's too late. Pews may be purchased 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. For more information, please contact Fr. John Mark jwiggers@stjamesknox.org or Kevin kevin@stjamesknox.org.
COFFEE HOUR TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED - Amidst the intensified construction activity in the parish house, our Sunday "Coffee Hour" has been temporarily suspended. Coffee Hour will resume once we are permitted to reoccupy our space in the parish hall, conference room, and kitchen sometime around May 21st. To express interest in helping when this fellowship activity resumes, please contact Carol Yatescyates0222@gmail.com.
THE PRESENT . . .
FORWARD MOVEMENT -Luke 6:43-44a. No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit.
Our previous home had two old grapefruit trees, but our family doesn’t enjoy grapefruit so we composted the fruit for the first couple years. We were committed to eating some of our annual harvest, so we finally tried a new dessert recipe: we took some grapefruit, coated the wedges in sugar, and caramelized them. It was only then that we realized that the fruit was so overwhelmingly bitter that not even caramelized sugar could make it edible.
We asked about nurturing the trees back to health and were told we were too late; decades of neglect cannot be undone. This is a message that would have connected with Jesus’s audience. Tending plants was included in Jewish law as an act of worship (Leviticus 19:23-25), and Jesus’s audience would have known that it is the gardener, not the tree, who’s responsible for the quality of the fruit. We should be grateful for Jesus’s reminder in John 15 that God is a faithful gardener who tends to all those who remain in him. That is the only way we will bear good fruit.Source Forward Day by Day
NAVE "CLOSING" - On Sunday, May 21 we will begin worshipping in our newly renovated Parish Hall for several months while major upgrades are being performed in the Nave. Join us as we adapt to our new temporary surroundings and share this unique experience together. During this period, all parking spaces adjacent to the Parish Hall will be reserved for members of our church family who are mobility challenged. If practical, caregivers should consider transporting their loved ones to the door and parking in the main parking lot. Some of our traditions and the service itself will be modified slightly to adapt to our changed surroundings. God will be praised.
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE POTLUCK DINNER - During our May Friendship Circle Dinner held in the Nave and hosted by the Centennial Committee, great fellowship was shared among the nearly 50 members of the St. James family in attendance. This dinner featured delicious fried chicken and a wide selection of side items provided by our guests, including: pulled bbq pork, deviled eggs, kielbasa, potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, green goddess pasta salad, 3-bean salad, veggie trays, pineapple cheddar casserole, sweet potato wedges, fudge brownies, peach pie, fresh fruits, cookies, pudding pastries, and plenty of food for thought provided by Rick Blackburn, Bob Williams, and our guest speaker Dan Holbrook - a widely acclaimed estate attorney who is involved with numerous local and national charities and was awarded the Knoxville Bar Association annual Pro Bono Award. Click THIS LINK to watch Dan's talk.
LET'S ALL GO TO THE MOVIES!-"The Way" is a film about a pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago - The Way of St. James. Widely admired by those who have seen it, the film which stars Martin Sheen is a rare work of art, uniquely balancing faith and doubt; sorrow and joy, It has garnered millions of fans across all generations. Watch the trailer at THIS LINK. On Tuesday, May 16th, for one night only, this film is showing in theaters. Join other St. James folks and make a pilgrimage to Regal Downtown West Theater to watch the film. Showtime is 7 pm. Be in the theatre parking lot at 6:30 pm to enjoy some fellowship before the movie and a chance to win a "door prize" provided by St. James. Be sure to order your tickets ahead of time while they last at THIS LINK. Log in if you have a Regal account. If not, just click the "Continue as Guest" button. See you at the movies!
NEIGHBOR DAY 2023 - Please click the image below watch an important 90-sec update regarding our 2023 Neighbor Day Celebration.
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 Jun 11, Aug 20 & 27, Sep 10, Sep 17, & 24, Oct 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29. Please contact Linda Goins for information lgoins@stjamesknox.org or 865-523-5687.
LOCAL NEEDS -Compassion Coalition, of which St. James is an active member, is transforming our city. It represents the body of Christ working together in unity to serve the greatest needs. These local needs have been identified by Compassion Coalition . . .
A 63-year-old disabled woman who lives alone needs help replacing her car’s tires (Nissan Maxima, needs 4 165r15 tires) which are dry-rotting. She also needs her washer and dryer repaired or replaced. If you can help please contact anne.singleton@cherokeehealth.com. A grandmother in East Knoxville is caring for her extended family and works multiple jobs to support them. However, her washer and kitchen range broke down at the same time. If you can help please contact pastormww@comcast.net. A mother of 3 children needs Uber or Lyft cards for transportation to work and appointments until the end of the school year, which is May 31st. If you can help please contact kelly.loepp@knoxvilleheadstart.org. A widow in the 37921 area needs two exterior doors to replace the current doors that have been broken into. Please contact sguthrie@klf.org if you can help.
The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee is committed to protecting each child of God. The Safe Church, Safe Communities training program teaches us how exploitation and harassment can occur, the awareness we need to prevent such occurrences, and how to respond should such an incident occur. Accordingly, persons in specific roles at St. James are required to complete specific courses in the Safe Church, Safe Communities training program. This includes priests, retired clergy, nursery workers, parent helpers, youth helpers, youth ministers, Sunday school teachers, acolyte leaders, overnight helpers, vestry members, wardens, treasurer, key holders, eucharistic visitors, ministry group leaders, sextons & administrators. A CHART highlighting the required courses for each position can be viewed at THIS LINK.
SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS - The St. James Episcopal Church Women (ECW) ministry group has helped send kids to summer camp for generations. Usually, the funds are generated by the annual rummage sale, but because this year's sale will be delayed due to construction, we want to be sure scholarships are available now. We will eventually have the rummage sale, but we want to make sure our kiddos can go to camp! So, the ECW is excited about sponsoring a "No FUNd Raiser FUNd Raiser". How much is doing nothing going to cost? It's up to you. Any amount will help and all amounts are appreciated. To help us raise money by doing nothing, just complete the form on the bottom of the downloadable flyer at THIS LINK and leave it with an ECW member after church or deliver it to the church office.
UTO ALL ABOUT GRATITUDE - So, you have been filling your United Thank Offering blue boxes for the last two months. Remember, May 14 is our spring ingathering. Please count your money and write a check to place in the UTO offering envelopes that are placed in the special UTO offering collection. The UTO ingathering prayer will be used to give thanks and bless the work that will come from the funds.
EUCHARISTIC MINISTER TRAINING - Have you ever considered becoming a Lay Eucharistic Minister? All baptized and confirmed adults can be licensed by the bishop for 3 years to assist with the delivery of the sacraments. The ministry has two parts, assisting with the distribution of the consecrated bread and wine to the congregation during Holy Communion and delivering the sacraments to those who are ill or homebound. Ministers can choose to participate in one, the other, or both. If you want to understand and respect the Eucharistic practices of the church, and become more familiar with the Eucharistic liturgy, including the words and mechanics of the service, becoming a Lay Eucharistic Minister may be for you. A training class will be held on Saturday, May 6 @ 10 am in the Nave. Please RSVP to Fr. John Mark Wiggers, jwiggers@stjamesknox.org, or Drew Jeske-Polyak, jeskepolyak@gmail.com.
CRUCIFER TRAINING - Adults and young people, ages 9 and up are invited to join in serving the altar for any of the services held at St. James Church. The crucifer carries the cross in the processional, assists the priest in setting and clearing the communion table, receives the elements from the ushers, collects the offering from the ushers, and rings the bells during the liturgy. The crucifer also processes the gospel book into the congregation for the priest to read. On special occasions we may also use ribbons or incense in the processionals. If you are interested in becoming a Crucifer for St. James, a training class is scheduled for Saturday, May 6 @ 10 am in the Nave. Please RSVP to Carla Livesey, carla234000@gmail.com.
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:
Tyson House Meals - TBD
"No FUNd Raiser FUNd Raiser" – May
UTO Spring Offering - Mother’s Day – May 14
Doorstep – Helping Hands Lunch - TBD (chili lunch in the fall?)
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
DIRECTORY OF SERVICE PROVIDERS - Are you a St. James church member who is also an artist, attorney, physician, contractor, designer, plumber, electrician, painter, landscaper, farrier, or some other professional? Would you like to be listed in an internal St. James directory of service providers shared with our members? If so, please send your contact information and a couple of sentences describing the service(s) you provide to kevin@stjamesknox.org. We will add you to the list!
QUILT "SIGNEES" - Here are the names, (over 262, so far), that will be included on the Centennial Quilt: Mark & Susan Abell, Barbara Andrew, Angelina, Mike & Elizabeth Armstrong, Norma Armstrong, Brian & Sandra Austin, Susan Bain, Gail Barnhill, John Baum, Marty Begalla, Margaret Bickley & SuAnne Cobb, Betty Bowling, Joseph C. Bowling, Rick & Lyn Brown, Rick Brown Jr (in memory), Jim & Gayle Browne, Troy Burns, Bettye Burris, Michelle, Gage, Savanna, Makayla, Landen, Colt, Easten, Willow & River Byrd, Doug Caleb, Mark, Emily, Parson & Phoebe Campen, Hoyt & Marilyn Canady, Paul, Emily, Ollie, & Ada Ruth Canady, Marie Cantrell, Bob & Helen Cargile, Amy Chapman (in memory), Linda Chapman, Harry & Patty Chase, Scott Childs, Jane Wolkiel Clift, Robert Clift, Sr (in memory), Michael Clift, Robert Clift Jr, Jeff, Nancy, & Erzhan Cocharan, Bill Collins & Angie Livesay, Gregg & Caroline Combs-Young, Bill Combs, Ginny Combs, David Connolly, Jennifer Connolly, Bradley Cox, Thomas & Rebecca Cox, Lee Creech, Doug Creveling, Katharine Criss, Linda Denton, Theresa DeRosa, Vincent DeRosa (memory), The Driskells, Linda & Duane Dunlap, Benjamin D. Dunning, Catherine D. Dunning, Emily Dunning, Sue Dyson, Suzanne Farkas, Linda Fitzpatrick, Pamela Clift Flynn, Terri & Donna Foster-Allen, Lou Ann Gaby, Mike & Susie Gardner, Craig & Joseph Gardner, Bill Gervin, Susan Dunlap Gill, Glossup-Derrick Family, Charles Goan, Linda Goins, Liz, Christopher, Ryan & Emily Golliher, Cladio A. Gonzales, Margaret Goodman, Joe Gouffon, Linda Granstrom, Alan Granstrom, Stacy Hall, Patricia Hammer, Al & Helen Harb, Wadad Harb, Drew Harper, Jennifer Harper and Ryan, Dylan & Asa Chapman, Anne Haselton-Rowe, Victoria & Brice Hawkins, Barbara Hickey, Judy Householder, Reggie Hulsey, Junior Humphrey, Lamar, Tobertha & Wiatta Thomas Jackson, Karen Lloyd & Drew Steen, Kevin & Drew Jeske-Polyak, Pat & Patti Jeske, Claramae Johnson, Kyla Keck & Ashley Burell, John & Merilee Kerwin, Louise Dunlap Kinser, Sheila & Donn Kurtz, Frank & Martha Laszlo, Diane Livermore, Carla Livesey, Stephanie Manning & Hilton Smith, Ed & Monica Harris-Maples, Martin Family, Fasia Massaquoi, Fritz Massaquoi (in memory), Douglas McCaleb, Carol McDaniel, Mary McGavock & Damon Beard, Catherine "Kitty" McNamara, Mary McNamara, Ed & Evelyn Miller, Nancy Minge, Anna Montgomery & Kurt Weiss, Rod & Mary Moore, James Moore, Molly Moore & Tony Teasley, Pam Morris & Renee Smith, Mary Muir, Phyllis Muth, Beth Myer, Tony Nease, Miriam Nelson, Tim, Jessie, Eden & Judah Nichols, Audry Nitz, Jim Orr, Mary Nelle Osborne, Elizabeth Partridge & Eric Dyer, Susan & Powell Partridge, Mary, Nick & Madeleine Passmore, Ida Mae Patteson, Robin & Dave Penegar, Steven & Betsy Pierce, John & Susan Pollock, Linda Pope, RJ Powell, David Pruess & Nancy Pullen, Emily Canady & Britt Ratliff, T & Jase Ratliff, Mark Reddaway, Danny Reynolds & Marvin Rominez, Jill & Rayna Richardson, James Rowland & John Sexton, Ana Salazar & Austin Patterson, Gerald Segroves, Mary Segroves, Richard Sidey, Nick Simson & Eleanor Aldrich & Oona Simson, Aubrie Starck, Andrew & Lesley Starck, Mary Jon Steen, Pam Strickland, Annette Stoker, Jeannie Sullivan, Mary & Joseph Sullivan (in memory), Phillip Szuromi, Cindy Taylor, Maevis Teasley & Zadie & friend, Scott Teets (in memory), Sharon Teets, Cynthia Thornburg, Geoffrey Trowbridge, Janet Van Der Dussen, Bob Wadley, Lew Walton & Carlene Loop, Sarah & Seth Walton, Ray & (Norma) Jean Weeden, Laura Wheat, Carolyn Wheeler, Jimmy Wheeler, Tim Wiegenstein, John Mark Wiggers, Richard Wilson, Butch & Carol Yates, Bill and Kim Yearman, and Elizabeth Campbell Young.
OUR FUTURE . . .
CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS - In just a couple of weeks, the newly renovated parish hall and kitchen will be cleared for occupancy and all single pane windows in the parish house will have been replaced with energy-efficient double pane windows. Work is well underway to complete the installation of an elevator to the second floor. Later this month, the columbarium will be upgraded to double its capacity. 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 some of the renovations currently underway. Please make your donation to the Centennial Capital Campaign to help us prepare our facilities for the next 100 years!
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. 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. 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 $642,483 in gifts to our Centennial Capital Campaign - 32.1% 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, Paul Cate, 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, Linda Granstrom, Susan Gray, Stacy Hall, Patricia Hammer, Drew Harper, Victoria Hawkins & Bryce Giesler, 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, Gay Thompson, 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. (Library). 9:15 am - 10:15. Join Fr. John Mark April 16-30 at 9:15 am on Sundays. We will be discussing resurrection and what that means for us right now.
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.
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. From April 18 through the end of May, Drew Jeske-Polyak will be leading the discussion group in learning to share stories as a form of Episcopal Evangelism. 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. (Nave). 10:00 am - 11:15 am. We will continue with our study and discussion of the scriptures for upcoming Sunday services through the Day of Pentecost (which is the last Sunday in May this year). No advance preparation is required - come and join a lively discussion and usually lunch at a local restaurant afterwards. 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
MUSIC - St. James has a long tradition of providing inspirational music as part of our morning worship services - both vocal and instrumental. Now, The St. James Sentinel, includes a clickable link that provides a clip of actual service music from a previous week. The link can be found at the top of the page in the same area as the links for this week's service booklet, prayers, and current Newsletter. Enjoy!
TWO WEEKS REMAINING - There are only 2 weeks remaining to claim one of the old pews in the Nave. Available for purchase for a minimum $300 donation to the church, several pews have already been purchased by church family members. Two (2) of the remaining pews can be shortened. Any of the rest must remain full length. All pews must be claimed and picked up prior to May 21st. If you know someone else who may be interested in purchasing one or more pews, let them know now, before it's too late. Pews may be purchased by submitting a downloadable reservation request form at 
COFFEE HOUR TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED - Amidst the intensified construction activity in the parish house, our Sunday "Coffee Hour" has been temporarily suspended. Coffee Hour will resume once we are permitted to reoccupy our space in the parish hall, conference room, and kitchen sometime around May 21st. To express interest in helping when this fellowship activity resumes, please contact Carol Yates 
FORWARD MOVEMENT - Luke 6:43-44a. No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit.
NAVE "CLOSING" - On Sunday, May 21 we will begin worshipping in our newly renovated Parish Hall for several months while major upgrades are being performed in the Nave. Join us as we adapt to our new temporary surroundings and share this unique experience together. During this period, all parking spaces adjacent to the Parish Hall will be reserved for members of our church family who are mobility challenged. If practical, caregivers should consider transporting their loved ones to the door and parking in the main parking lot. Some of our traditions and the service itself will be modified slightly to adapt to our changed surroundings. God will be praised.
LET'S ALL GO TO THE MOVIES! - "The Way" is a film about a pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago - The Way of St. James. Widely admired by those who have seen it, the film which stars Martin Sheen is a rare work of art, uniquely balancing faith and doubt; sorrow and joy, It has garnered millions of fans across all generations. Watch the trailer at 
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 Jun 11, Aug 20 & 27, Sep 10, Sep 17, & 24, Oct 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29. Please contact Linda Goins for information 
The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee is committed to protecting each child of God. The Safe Church, Safe Communities training program teaches us how exploitation and harassment can occur, the awareness we need to prevent such occurrences, and how to respond should such an incident occur. Accordingly, persons in specific roles at St. James are required to complete specific courses in the Safe Church, Safe Communities training program. This includes priests, retired clergy, nursery workers, parent helpers, youth helpers, youth ministers, Sunday school teachers, acolyte leaders, overnight helpers, vestry members, wardens, treasurer, key holders, eucharistic visitors, ministry group leaders, sextons & administrators. A CHART highlighting the required courses for each position can be viewed at 
SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS - The St. James Episcopal Church Women (ECW) ministry group has helped send kids to summer camp for generations. Usually, the funds are generated by the annual rummage sale, but because this year's sale will be delayed due to construction, we want to be sure scholarships are available now. We will eventually have the rummage sale, but we want to make sure our kiddos can go to camp! So, the ECW is excited about sponsoring a "No FUNd Raiser FUNd Raiser". How much is doing nothing going to cost? It's up to you. Any amount will help and all amounts are appreciated. To help us raise money by doing nothing, just complete the form on the bottom of the downloadable flyer at 
UTO ALL ABOUT GRATITUDE - So, you have been filling your United Thank Offering blue boxes for the last two months. Remember, May 14 is our spring ingathering. Please count your money and write a check to place in the UTO offering envelopes that are placed in the special UTO offering collection. The UTO ingathering prayer will be used to give thanks and bless the work that will come from the funds.
EUCHARISTIC MINISTER TRAINING - Have you ever considered becoming a Lay Eucharistic Minister? All baptized and confirmed adults can be licensed by the bishop for 3 years to assist with the delivery of the sacraments. The ministry has two parts, assisting with the distribution of the consecrated bread and wine to the congregation during Holy Communion and delivering the sacraments to those who are ill or homebound. Ministers can choose to participate in one, the other, or both. If you want to understand and respect the Eucharistic practices of the church, and become more familiar with the Eucharistic liturgy, including the words and mechanics of the service, becoming a Lay Eucharistic Minister may be for you. A training class will be held on Saturday, May 6 @ 10 am in the Nave. Please RSVP to Fr. John Mark Wiggers, 
CRUCIFER TRAINING - Adults and young people, ages 9 and up are invited to join in serving the altar for any of the services held at St. James Church. The crucifer carries the cross in the processional, assists the priest in setting and clearing the communion table, receives the elements from the ushers, collects the offering from the ushers, and rings the bells during the liturgy. The crucifer also processes the gospel book into the congregation for the priest to read. On special occasions we may also use ribbons or incense in the processionals. If you are interested in becoming a Crucifer for St. James, a training class is scheduled for Saturday, May 6 @ 10 am in the Nave. Please RSVP to Carla Livesey, 
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:
DIRECTORY OF SERVICE PROVIDERS - Are you a St. James church member who is also an artist, attorney, physician, contractor, designer, plumber, electrician, painter, landscaper, farrier, or some other professional? Would you like to be listed in an internal St. James directory of service providers shared with our members? If so, please send your contact information and a couple of sentences describing the service(s) you provide to 
CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS - In just a couple of weeks, the newly renovated parish hall and kitchen will be cleared for occupancy and all single pane windows in the parish house will have been replaced with energy-efficient double pane windows. Work is well underway to complete the installation of an elevator to the second floor. Later this month, the columbarium will be upgraded to double its capacity. 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 some of the renovations currently underway. Please make your donation to the Centennial Capital Campaign to help us prepare our facilities for the next 100 years! 
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. 
INVEST IN ST. JAMES - To date, we have secured $642,483 in gifts to our Centennial Capital Campaign - 32.1% of our $2 million fundraising goal. 
