Friends and Neighbors, 

We all have a story to tell. I had the blessing of hearing people tell their stories in the recent Inquirers Class. I was delighted to see many of those folks affirm their faith when the Bishop was with us Wednesday night. Several people have reached out lately to ask questions about our parish and to share their ups and downs on the faith journey. Many of you know the power of sharing stories as we walk this life together. Sharing stories makes a difference. Having a safe community to tell our stories is a gift. You make St. James a safe place as we share the story of God's love for all. 

We don't just tell stories. We embody love in many ways as we feed and tend God's sheep. I was telling the Inquirers class how important our gifts are to the community. Yes, it does take money to support much of our work. Thank you for continuing to give. We also rely on a mighty host of volunteers to do what we do. Our parish and many organizations have seen a decrease in volunteers in the past few years. I want to encourage you to consider serving somewhere. Perhaps as an usher. You too could be a lector or an acolyte. We are currently looking to form a buildings and grounds committee. The list goes on, and you can see an extensive list of ministry opportunities in this email. These ministries help us embody the stories we tell. 

I encourage you to share your stories of what brings you to St. James. I pray that we can also be a place that is safe for others to share their stories. The stories we tell will have moments of loss and confusion. As we tell the story of God's love for us, we know that Jesus entered into those painful places of existence. We also celebrate the resurrection of Christ as a historical moment and a present moment in our lives today. Thank you for being a place where I can share my story and be received with love and grace. 

Peace,

Fr. John Mark