7 from Kevin - June 2022
Kevin Jeske-Polyak • June 1, 2022
- For nearly 100 years, St. James has been squarely situated in the Historic District of Old North Knoxville. We are proud of the way we have served our neighbors and the support we have received from them. With help from Donna S, we look forward to even greater collaboration in the years to come.
- “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” We are so fortunate Darrel C is the friendly mail courier who serves St. James. In addition to being very conscientious about prompt mail delivery, he always has such a cheerful disposition.
- One in six Knoxville residents currently live at or below the poverty line. How blessed are we in Knoxville to be served by Gina W and Carolyn H at Compassion Coalition? St. James is proud to work tirelessly with them to feed and tend God’s sheep.
- Thanks to Susan & Boyce D, the Doorstep Ministry is now equipped to store more frozen and refrigerated supplies for the bagged lunches they distribute through the week. Their donation of a full size side by side refrigerator/freezer helps to ensure we always have the food product we need ready!
- Susan B, with the Knoxville CAC, is very familiar with our neighborhood and St. James. Her empathy and understanding of the daily struggle faced by neighbors on a fixed income, is enormous. We are pleased to welcome her “home” in June/July to present a series of financial literacy sessions to neighbors struggling with poverty.
- Special thanks to the St. James “move crew” who assisted in transporting some rather large pieces of furniture to St. James donated by Sheila & Tupper M for the Neighbor Day Auction. Members of the crew on this occasion included Charles L, Charlie S, Rick B, and Kevin J-P.
- Tom C has combined his expertise in the field of security and craftsmanship in the area of woodworking to help us update our framed welcome sign at the front door to the church. There is much more to sign making than meets the eye.
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.
Friends and Neighbors, The annual Nehemiah Action is this Tuesday, April 8. We gather with over 22 congregations to ask our leaders to commit to taking action on important community matters. This year, we are asking for commitments on housing instability, homelessness, and transportation. Please invite others to attend. Having a large number of people makes a difference. You can find the details in this newsletter. Your presence helps us bring more justice to our city.
Lent is a season when we are particularly called to consider our sins and to amend our ways. Many of the messages we hear in our culture tend to focus on the sins of an individual. The witness of scripture places as much emphasis on corporate sins. In the story of Jonah, the whole city is called to repent. Prophets like Amos deliver the call for all those in power to stop mistreating the poor. In Nehemiah 5, we hear the story of Nehemiah gathering a great assembly to call for the leaders to stop the unfair lending practices harming their community. As faithful people, we are called to consider the ways that our life together touches the lives of others.
I am writing this on the Feast of St. Joseph (March 19). This character in God's salvation story has an intriguing supporting role. He chooses to protect Mary and the expectant child despite the possible scandal. Joseph finds himself fleeing for Egypt to protect the newborn Jesus. We don't otherwise hear much from or about Joseph in scripture. He is a faithful person who sought to follow God in tough situations.
Get ready to jingle all the way to the "Smoky Mountain Ring" - a sensational showcase of talent and community spirit! Join us on Saturday, April 5 @ 4:30 pm at Grace Lutheran Church, (9076 Middlebrook Pike), where The Bells of St. James will be ringing in harmony with several other talented handbell choirs under the expert guidance of clinician Brenda Austin. This vibrant concert is more than just a musical event; it's a heartwarming celebration of connection, inclusivity, and the joy of coming together as a community. We can't wait to see you there!
Friends and Neighbors, We enter the season of Lent. Lent can seem very focused on the individual. For sure, we are called to consider our sinfulness and mortality. We do not stay there, but turn our hearts to God's forgiveness and grace.