7 from Kevin - Dec 2022/Jan 2023
November 29, 2022
- THE PORCH – Our porch is the vestibule in front of the main entrance. In early medieval times, porches provided cover to worshipers, but they also had a liturgical use. At baptisms, the priest would receive the sponsors with the infant in the porch where the service began. Our porch features an archangel above the front door (outside) and stained-glass windows of the Archangels St. Gabriel, St. Michael, St. Uriel, and St. Raphael. Votive candles inside the porch are lit as an offering during an act of Christian prayer. They symbolize the prayers the worshiper is offering for themself and/or for other people.
- THE NARTHEX – Our Narthex is the space between the porch and the entrance to the nave. Traditionally a place of penitence, it is customarily at the opposite end of the church from the altar. Today, the St. James Narthex is used for service preparation including the welcoming of members and guests, assembly of the choir and clergy prior to worship services, gathering of bridal parties before wedding ceremonies, and the tasks related to audio & video recording and live streaming. The stained-glass windows on the north wall depict St. Philip and St. James the Less. The stained-glass windows on the rear wall depict Te Deum Lamb of God. The Scallop Shells on the side door represent the symbol of our church.
- THE NAVE - Our nave is the central part of the church stretching from the narthex to the chapel and choir transepts. The stained-glass windows on the north wall depict St. Thomas, St. Barnabas, St. Simon, St. Jude, St. Mathew, St. Bartholomew, St. Mark, & St. Luke. The stained-glass windows on the south wall depict St. Stephen, St. Paul, St. Martha, St. Mary, St. James the Greater, St. John, St. Andrew, & St. Peter.
- THE CHAPEL TRANSEPT – Our Chapel Transept is the space which forms the south “arm” of the cross shape of the church. Dedicated to the name of our mother church, (The Church of the Epiphany, previously located between Fifth Ave. and Magnolia Ave), it is used for early morning worship services, evening prayer, and other smaller special services. The chapel features the original altar, cross & eucharistic candles of the church from 1923. The stained-glass windows depict St. John the Baptist, St. Joseph, Mary the Mother of Our Lord, St. Elizabeth the Mother of St. John the Baptist, Epiphany Star, & Three Wise Kings.
- THE CHOIR TRANSEPT – Our Choir Transept is the space which forms the north “arm” of the cross shape of the church. Seating for the choir is aligned at right-angles to the seating for the congregation in the nave. The pipe organ, (Schantz Organ Company, Opus 1780) was installed in 1984. The horizontal trumpets, (Trompette en Chamade), were installed in the 1990’s. The antiphonal organ was installed at the rear of the nave in 2006.
- THE CHANCEL – Our Chancel is the part of a church near the altar reserved for the clergy, acolytes, and eucharistic ministers. The baptismal font is used for the baptism of infants and adults by pouring a little water on their heads. The term “font” comes from the Latin fons, “spring of water”. The pulpit (on the left side) is where the sermon is delivered, if not from the center. The Lectern (on the right side) is where the Words of the Lord and Prayers of the People are read. This marble lectern was formerly used as the pulpit during St. James’ early history.
- THE ALTAR
– Our Altar is made of Tennessee Marble and was installed in 1962. This prominent table is where the celebration of the Eucharist takes place. The Candle of Perpetual Light continually burns on the reredos behind the altar beneath the cross indicating and honoring the presence of Christ. A pair of 5-branch candelabras on the reredos behind the altar symbolize the light of Christ or the light of the gospel. The two Eucharistic Candles located to the right and left of the altar signify our prayer, which is offered in faith, entering the light of God. They also show reverence and our desire to remain present in prayer even as we continue our day.
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.