St. James Sentinel 23:27

FORWARD MOVEMENT - Luke 23:23. But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed.

Mariana is an Episcopal friend who studied in a boarding school as a teen. Corruption was rampant in that institution. During finals, it was normal for students to cheat so that they could pass their classes. Mariana didn’t like cheating. During a test, another student asked her to whisper the correct answer, but she refused to do so. After the test, her classmates called her “selfish,” “a clown,” and added other insults. That was the price she had to pay for being fair; she was fair, courageous, and loyal to her convictions. Sadly, more often than not people yield to crowd pressure, as Pontius Pilate did when the crowd cried for him to crucify Jesus. So often, it seems easier to yield to fit in and please the crowd. To stand firm, we need courage, resilience, and a sense of justice. May God grant us those gifts all the time. Source Forward Day by Day

HELPING HANDS NEWS & NOTES - Each distribution day, (every other Saturday morning), Helping Hands begins and ends with prayer and taking prayer requests from our clients and volunteers. It is a meaningful time for all of us. Some of our clients request prayers for health and their families or friends. Then there are those who tug at our heartstrings, asking us to pray that they will be able to get off the streets soon, or to thank us and pray that we will continue to bless them as we do now. Our remaining July distribution dates will be July 15 and July 29 from 9 am - 10 am. We invite you to pray for us on those days using your own words or this simple prayer: "Thank you, Father, for giving us the opportunity to tend and feed your sheep in our neighborhood. Guide us in seeking and serving Christ in each person we meet, respecting the dignity of every human being. Help us to remember that we are your voice and heart as well as your hands and feet, and that smiles, hugs and kind words feed the soul as surely as bread nourishes the body. Grant us patience with ourselves, each other and those we serve. Please forgive us when we fall short of the goal. Bless those who receive and those who give with your heavenly grace and the peace that passes understanding. Amen"

WATCH MARGARET BICKLEY - Watch your neighbor Margaret Bickley describe the importance of the work performed by congregants at St. James and other Justice Knox network members throughout our community who strive to act in times of injustice by serving in accordance with Micah 6:8 - “Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.”

SEPTEMBER CELEBRATION - St. James Episcopal Church is celebrating its 100th year as a part of Knoxville’s religious community. We are truly proud of our heritage and look forward to preserving it for another century. To commemorate this significant milestone, we are reaching out to all whose personal history has been touched by St. James at one time or another in the past whether through baptism, confirmation, marriage, memorial, or general attendance. We hope you will join us in the centennial observance and celebration to be held on Sunday, September 17th. On that date, you will recognize familiar sights on the outside, but many of the views on the inside will be strikingly new. You will see the results of the recently renovated parish hall originally built in 1996. Less visible, but equally important, you will find a new heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system. In the nave, you will notice the traditional pews have been replaced by individual cathedral chairs which will allow more flexibility for worship services, conferences, and other get-togethers. We hope you will join the celebration on September 17th and participate in our centennial capital campaign. There are numerous ways to help with the capital campaign, including: providing a one-time gift or a pledge contributed over time, sponsorship of a cathedral chair honoring loved ones, and/or a planned legacy gift. If you are unable to make a gift, please honor us with your presence on September 17th. Thank you for having made St. James a part of your spiritual journey. May the Lord bless you and guide you in the years ahead.

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 newly housed family needs a stove and refrigerator. If you can help please contact conya_l_mull@uhc.com.

An isolated client with a newborn baby needs a new car battery and tires. If you can help contact Chasity at cgalyon@ccetn.org.

A set of siblings in the 37920 area needs shoes. One child is a girl and needs size 10 and the other child is a boy and needs size 10 as well. If you can help, contact kelly.loepp@knoxvilleheadstart.org.

A family in the 37918 area needs living room furniture; a couch, and armchairs if possible. If you can help, contact kelly.loepp@knoxvilleheadstart.org.

A young couple with a 15-month-old baby girl needs a dryer. If you can help please contact anne.singleton@cherokeehealth.com.

A 17-year-old child in the 37921 area needs a Knee Scooter to get around better. If you can help please contact melissa.johnson@knoxcounty.org or call 865-256-0831.