Dear Friends, 

Our Vestry met this week and decided that we will continue to follow CDC guidance regarding COVID-19. That means that face masks will be optional for worship and other gatherings at St. James. Should the guidance change, we will adjust at that time. Please respect the choices others make. 

I look forward to slowly moving back to more activities together. We have gone a while without wine and communion, coffee hour, and other meaningful gatherings. Our volunteers who make those things happen will be regrouping and retraining. I am reminded that it takes your faithful service to make those things happen. I am grateful for the efforts of many to keep worship, connection, and community happening throughout this pandemic. 

I am hoping we can have lots of fun gatherings soon. While we have learned that we can have some degree of connection over the internet, there is nothing like sharing in person. I am especially looking forward to having architectural drawings to show you what improvements are envisioned for our facilities. I believe that the proposed renovations and improvements create greater accessibility and flexibility for St. James and for our service to the community. 

Life in community holds me in the truth that God is with us. That is the resounding message of the scriptures. Even before the pandemic we were living in a time of planetary disruption. As followers of Christ, we hold to our faith that God is with us even in such disruption (and sometimes is causing it!) In the midst of all that is going on, we pause to pray, we break bread together, and we offer our acts of service right where we are. Thank you for being a community that bears witness to Christ among us. 

Peace, 
Fr. John Mark