7 from Kevin - Mar 2022
Kevin Jeske-Polyak • March 1, 2022
- Some awesome photographs of our 2022 Vestry Members were recently captured by Susan B. Jane C has artfully presented them behind a framed glass in the hallway outside the main conference room in the administration building. This mother & daughter duo has been teaming up to frame our Vestry Members for several years.
- The St. James Medical Response Team is a small group of volunteers with medical training who share responsibility for a coordinated response in the event of a medical emergency during worship services and other events. Current members of our Medical Response Team include: Mary Nelle O, Margaret B, Rick B, SuAnne C, Barb M, and Nancy M.
- Understanding our finances helps us manage our ministries and maintain the future sustainability of our church. Using Realm Accounting software and working with the finance committee, Bob W is generating customized reports that provide just the right amount of relevant information for our clergy, staff, and ministry leaders to manage their budgets.
- A member of our St. James Family since 1998, Reggie H has donated an enormous amount of expertise, craftsmanship, and time around this place. This has included the installation and maintenance of our antiphonal organ, (the enclosed division of our pipe organ situated at the rear of the church that permits answering and antiphonal effects), lending his own pipes as a talented Baritone in our choir, and providing computer technical support of all kinds.
- Funerals and memorial services don't just happen at St. James. A talented team of compassionate parishioners offer their time and skills to make sure every ceremonial detail is addressed and the family is comforted in every way possible. Current members of our Funeral Guild include: Marilyn C, Stacy H, Susan A, Margaret B, Ashley B, Hoyt C, Patty C, SuAnne C, Bea E, Linda G, Patricia H, Victoria H, Carla L, Theresa Ann R, Nick S, Pam S, and Cynthia T.
- Dolly Parton has taken up temporary residence in the basement at St. James as she prepares to participate in the 2022 Big Ears Festival (March 24 - 27). Word is she is having some restorative work done to get her in shape for an appearance in the Big Ears Festival Parade. St. James is pleased to be providing plenty of space for Dolly to enjoy a peaceful restoration.
- A portable LifeVac choking rescue device has been generously donated to St. James by Powell & Susan P. Once trained, anyone can use this easy to operate device by following three simple steps: (a) place the LifeVac on the patient, (b) push down on the suction cup, and (c) pull up on the handle. Hopefully, we will never need to use it, but we are certainly grateful to have it in case we do.
Thanks to everyone for becoming engaged in our mission at St. James at whatever level they are able, including all effort that is noticed and so much more that may be less noticed. Rest assured, nothing is unnoticed by God and St. James is stronger because of everyone's combined effort.
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.