This past Sunday, more than one person commented how much they enjoyed the "spirit" of our worship in the parish hall (yes, this theme is continued from last week). I reminded folks that we can do many things that contribute to that "spirit" even when we return to worship in the nave.
Some of that spirit is fed by being able to see each other differently because of the seating arrangement. Having various instruments brings a different quality to the experience. We can have all of those in the nave and not be as crowded as we are in the parish hall. While I am sure that those nuances influence the vibe, I also know that you who come together shape the "spirit" of how we gather. We make space in the room and open space in our hearts.
You are also the ones who make others feel welcome. I hear the stories of people who have felt rejected or otherwise anxious when entering church space. Those of us who have been around for a minute can think that everybody knows that there is a place for them at St. James. They don't. Let us continue to share that there is a place where all can know grace and love.
This Sunday, we will celebrate the feast of St. James. The life of St. James reminds us that Christ's standard of greatness is in being a servant. James was also the first of the 12 apostles to be martyred for the faith. We see that some will resist the Good News that God's love is for all. James is often associated with pilgrimage. We are on a pilgrimage as a community. We are not isolated in our church buildings. We are moving through this world sharing the grace and love of God everywhere we go.
We also like to stop and eat along the way! Sign up today for our Friendship Circle on Monday July 24 at 6 pm. There is no charge but you are welcome to make a special gift to our capital campaign. Come here how things are going with the renovations, dream a little about the future, and enjoy time with friends new and old.
Whatever we do may we do it that the Spirit we feel as we worship. May you know the spirit of Christ filling you as you make your way.
Peace,
Fr. John Mark
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE DINNER - You are invited to join us for the upcoming Friendship Circle dinner on Monday, July 24th at 6 pm in the Parish Hall. We will discuss our centennial project, enjoy fellowship with one another, and imagine our future together. This month's event will be catered by Tarik's North African. Please RSVP to kevin@stjamesknox.org or call the church at 865-523-5687 to reserve your space and help us to determine how much delicious food to order.
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/Greenery are needed for Aug 20; Sep 24; Oct 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29; Nov. 5, 19, & 26; and Dec 3 & 17. Please contact Linda Goins for information lgoins@stjamesknox.org or 865-523-5687.
FORWARD MOVEMENT -Acts 13:9-10.But Saul, also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?”
About a year ago, a false prophet was exposed in a neighborhood of my city. One would think this only happened in the old days, but sometimes ignorance leads people to be deceived rather than finding real communion with the Holy Spirit. This liar said he was the new messiah, and people believed him. He said God had told him in a dream that a local 14-year-old girl should be his wife, and people believed him. He said that, since he was the only chosen one, he should have no male heirs; as he started to have children with his young wife, they kept the girls but abandoned the boys. He was eventually denounced and jailed—yet his evil acts were devastating. The Holy Spirit can dwell in us and help us distinguish between righteousness and villainy. It can help us reject and denounce villainy, and embrace love and follow righteousness. We should always remember these words by Peter. I came closer to God 25 years ago in an evangelical church for which I always pray. Unfortunately, they reject other denominations and deem the Catholic faith diabolical. When I started to date my now husband, he was a Roman Catholic, and many in my evangelical church repudiated me—especially the young people. I didn’t stop seeing him, because I felt his love for God was the same as mine. After getting married, we both abandoned our churches and continued our faith journey in the Episcopal Church, which welcomed us as family. God doesn’t love some more than others because of religion, race, sexual orientation, or gender. Many of our perceived differences are subjective or the product of social norms. We are all equally worthy of God’s love. Source Forward Day by Day
LIGHT PERPETUAL -Edward G. Miller, Jr. passed away Thursday, July 13. May he rest in peace and be raised in glory. A Memorial Service and committal will be held at St. James Episcopal Church on Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 3 pm. Please keep his wife Evelyn and their family in your prayers.
The Rev. Patricia Jane Lynes-Tway passed away Thursday, June 15. May she rest in peace and be raised in glory. A Memorial Service will be held at St. John's Cathedral on Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 2 pm. Please keep her family in your prayers.
Let light perpetual shine upon them.
ST. JAMES DAY - St. James Day, also known as the Feast of St. James or Santiago's Day, is a religious celebration that takes place on July 25th each year. It is widely celebrated in various cultures and regions around the world, particularly among Christian communities. St. James the Greater was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and is considered to be the patron saint of Spain and pilgrims. The day holds special significance in Spain, where it is a national holiday and marks the end of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. Many people embark on this pilgrimage to reach the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, where the remains of St. James are said to be buried. This year it will hold a special significance since our own Margaret Bickley will be making the pilgrimage in October. On St. James Day, various festivities such as parades, processions, and religious ceremonies take place to honor the life and contributions of St. James. Since St. James is the namesake of our parish, we celebrate it on the Sunday before. We will be celebrating St. James THIS SUNDAY, JULY 23. Be sure to WEAR YOUR RED!
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.
A single mom needs a Chromebook for her daughter's schooling. Her daughter has been working towards earning her high school diploma online. Her current laptop died and she has been unable to complete coursework, and they have already paid for the summer semester. If you may be able to assist, please contact kcrye@klf.org.
A recently housed family in the 37912 area needs a mattress of any size for their home. If you can help please contact Evan at ejamison@klf.org.
A single mom on a fixed income in the 37918 area needs help with fixing her car. O’Reilly has stated Transmission Pressure Switch needs to be replaced. Cost $600. If you can help please reach out to Melissa Johnson at melissa.johnson@knoxcounty.org or call (865) 256-0831.
A recently unhoused Grandmother with custody of 3 grandchildren moved into a home in the 37912 area. The grandmother has been able to keep her furniture in a storage unit but needs help securing a truck to move furniture into the new home. The grandmother has a valid drives license. If you can help with the rental of a pick-up truck, please contact Anne.stokes@knoxseniors.org or call (865) 524-2786 at the Grandparents as Parents at the Office on Aging.
A young man who works at one of our local factories needs a car desperately. His car, and 3 others, were smashed by trees in the last storm and sadly, neither his insurance nor the landlord's insurance will pay because it was," an act of God." Without a vehicle, he will lose his job and apartment. If you can help contact Gerri at (865) 789-6392.
ELLIOTT WIGGERS - In the latest Becoming Beloved Community Storytelling Initiative Interview, Mr. Alvin Blount, Diocesan Archivist, interviewed St.James' own Elliott Wiggers, one of the ETNyouth who journeyed on the Trail of Tears Pilgrimage this year. Find out more about Elliott and the meaningful experience he had by clicking the image to the left to watch the recorded interview.
CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS - As we continue to hold Sunday morning worship services, weekly discussion groups, community meetings, and social events in the newly renovated Parish Hall, work continues on the installation of an elevator to the second floor. Newly installed weatherstripping on all of the exterior doors will increase heating & cooling efficiency and help improve pest control as well. Intensive renovations are well underway in the Nave as well, including tiling of the ramped incline to the altar rail and the refinishing of the floor with an epoxy resin. We remain on pace to achieve 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 keep up with the expenses incurred thus far as we prepare our facilities for the next 100 years!
CATHEDRAL CHAIR DEDICATIONS -Forty-six of our new cathedral chairs have been sponsored in thanksgiving or in memory of loved ones by family, friends, and St. James ministry groups. Our solid red oak chairs will have the look and feel of pew seating but they will be much more comfortable and allow for greater seating flexibility.You are invited to "sponsor" an individual cathedral chair(s) by making a $500 cash contribution to St. James Episcopal Church. In exchange for your cash contribution, the backside of each chair you sponsor will be fitted with an engraved brass plate commemorating your gift. 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. Below are examples of the dedications that have already been secured. Three more examples will be displayed next week!
INVEST IN ST. JAMES - To date, we have secured $716,008 in gifts to our Centennial Capital Campaign - 35.8% of our $2 million fundraising goal.
Campaign Donations: $370,793
Additional Pledged Donations: $316,045
Cathedral Chair Donations: $23,000
Pew Purchase Donations:$2,700
Quilt Signature Donations: $3,470
TOTAL: $716,008 (35.8% 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 nearly complete as renovations in the nave 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 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, Kristin (Dunlap) Eddy, 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 & Trina Hubbs, Lou Ann Gaby, Mary Ireland, Kevin & Drew Jeske-Polyak, Carl Keaney, 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, Nancy Pullen & David Preuss, Lou Ann Robinson, Jim Rowland, Gerald Segroves, Kenneth & Kathleen Sherfick, Drew Steen & Karen Lloyd, Jennie Sullivan, Sharon Teets, Gay Thompson, Cynthia Thornburg & Tom Dunne, Thursday Christian Formation Class, Janet Van Der Dussen, 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 at 9:15 am on Sundays. We will be discussing various subjects.
MON: Centering Prayer. (Zoom 1st & 3rd Monday, Zoom & Library 2nd & 4th Monday). 6 pm - 7 pm. Not meeting in July, will resume on Monday, August 7th Zoom Link Meeting ID: 813 3584 8679 | Pray.
TUE: Tuesday Morning Discussion Group. (Zoom). 11 am - noon. Meeting ID 816 8271 5668 and Passcode 481655. Contact: Margaret mbick7@gmail.com, 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: rondmorton@gmail.com for the link.
THU: Thursday Study Group. (Parish Hall). 10 am - 11:15 am. Our 3 week study with Father RJ exploring the idea of scripture as a developing and ongoing conversion. The only “homework” is to bring a Bible and expectation to be challenged. Just join us! Call or email Nancy Pullen with any questions - 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.thornburg16@gmail.com or mbick7@gmail.com.
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
This past Sunday, more than one person commented how much they enjoyed the "spirit" of our worship in the parish hall (yes, this theme is continued from last week). I reminded folks that we can do many things that contribute to that "spirit" even when we return to worship in the nave.
ALTAR FLOWERS - 
ST. JAMES DAY -
CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS -
CATHEDRAL CHAIR DEDICATIONS -
INVEST IN ST. JAMES - 
