7 from Kevin - Apr 2023
Kevin Jeske-Polyak • March 31, 2023
- Over the last couple of months, attendance at our monthly Friendship Circle Dinners has grown to nearly 30 people. A giant step toward restoring “normalcy following our hibernation due to COVID, these dinner events provide an interesting, delicious, and relaxed way to get to know each other better. Join us for the NEXT Friendship Circle Dinner on May 1 at 6 pm. We will meet in the courtyard and have a potluck while we get an update on capital renovations.
- At this year's annual Justice Knox Rally held on March 27th, St. James was well- represented by 54 parishioners committed to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly. Justice Knox seeks to understand problems facing the Knoxville community through person-to-person conversation, and to grow those conversations into prioritized, research-based action items. These action items are targeted and have a real impact on the lives of underserved—or not before heard—community members.
- In person attendance at St. James Sunday morning worship services have averaged 122 persons since January 1, 2023. Church is a community where we can socialize and support one another, make friends, feel a sense of belonging, and build reliable support networks. The church community helps us to “mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort” (Mosiah 18:9).
- The number of names that will be embroidered on the St. James Centennial Quilt has now grown to more than 200! Thanks to all of you who have chosen to lend your hand or signature in creating this lasting piece of St. James history. We hope that you will prayerfully consider further supporting our Centennial Capital Campaign through a major financial gift, pledged gift, or other planned giving option. For more information, contact Fr. John Mark Wiggers.
- Some of the latest improvements to our parish house include the installation of a new ceiling and LED light fixtures in the parish hall and the replacement of all HVAC units throughout the building. Preparation for the installation of an elevator to the second floor has also begun.
- Some of the latest improvements to our expanded kitchen include the installation of floor tiles and LED light fixtures. Reinstallation of the back door and painting of the new walls have also been completed. Soon, St. James will finally have a commercial automatic dishwasher installed.
- St. James currently has 43 full length
pews in the nave
that will disappear sometime in early May. If you or someone you know would like to purchase one or more of them, the time to do so is now. Most are 11 - 13 feet long and because of the way they are constructed cannot be shortened. Only 10 can be shortened and 4 of them have already been purchased. The cost for each pew, regardless of length, is $300. For more information, contact
Kevin Jeske-Polyak.
Friends and Neighbors, This Sunday is Mother's Day and also Good Shepherd Sunday. Both celebrations have been shaped and changed over the years. Good Shepherd Sunday got the name as we do read the passage from John 10 about Jesus the Good Shepherd, and Mother's Day has roots going back to Mothering Sunday in England. The establishment of Mother's Day in the United States was motivated by the recognition of the work of Ann Reeves Jarvis, Julia Ward Howe, and Anna M. Jarvis. These women worked for sanitary health care for soldiers and were advocates for peace during the Civil War. They imagined a union of mothers who would call for peace because mothers knew so deeply the loss of their children to war. Mothering and shepherding call for similar qualities of protection and care.
We continue celebrating Easter as we move into a month full of celebrations and transitions. I am looking forward to just hanging out with folks this Saturday night at our spaghetti dinner. You can find details about that in this email. Please mark your calendars for the annual Justice Knox Celebration on May 19 from 6:30 PM- 8:30 PM at First Presbyterian Church. We will have dinner and share stories about the next steps. You will also be asked to consider making an investment in the work of Justice Knox. I hope that you will consider giving to this important ministry.
Alleluia. Christ is risen. We celebrated the resurrection with so much joy this past Sunday. The Easter feast continues for 50 days. Thank you to everyone who made Holy Week and Easter Sunday so special. You helped people feel welcomed to this place where we proclaim the welcoming love of Christ in word, deed, song, Easter egg hunts, and something good to eat. We welcome others because we have known the love of Christ and want to share it.
Friends and Neighbors, As we journey through Holy Week, I encourage you to pause and consider those events that lead us to the joyful celebration of Easter. May that also be reflected in our lives. We walk through hard things and know that God is with us. We hold to the hope that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Friends and Neighbors, As the weather teases us with warm days followed by chilly ones, we enter Holy Week. You have probably heard me encouraging folks to experience the journey to the cross and the grave so we might celebrate the resurrection with that insight. God has shared this human experience and is with us in the darkness and the light. Our liturgies of Holy Week take us on that journey with Jesus and remind us that God is indeed with us on our own journeys.