Weekly Letter, 06/27/2024
The Rev. John Mark Wiggers • June 27, 2024

Friends and Neighbors, 


During this hot week, The Episcopal Church meets for it's triennial General Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. Our own RJ Powell is a delegate representing our diocese. One big action this year is electing a presiding bishop. The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe, bishop of The Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania has been elected as of Wednesday afternoon as the new Presiding Bishop for the Episcopal Church of the United States. There are many other issues before the convention. You can follow the news at this link. We are reminded that our church is larger than our local parish and our diocese. I am thankful for those who take on the work of governance and administration. It takes various gifts to share the love of Christ in our world. 


We continue to feed our neighbors and offer cold water in this heat. I wish that I could capture the sense of gratitude our doorstep ministers receive as they provide this mercy to those who come to us. Thank you for your support of all that we do as a parish. If you are discerning opportunities to serve at St. James, reach out to me for a little conversation. We could use some folks serving in various roles like usher, lector, acolyte, altar guild, and a host of others. 


 Life at St. James also allows for us to connect with others and grow in our faith. We have several groups that meet throughout the week to pray and study. In the midst of those activities, we build relationships and just enjoy being together. Is there a particular group that you would like to see at St. James? Give me a call about that and we can see what can happen. The world needs spaces for people to connect and find hope. We can make that happen together. 


 You may have noticed that I am asking for some conversation. I really do want to know what keeps you coming around this community. Where do you see God working? How can we work together to share what we have found? I really mean it.


 Reach out at jwiggers@stjamesknox.org or do a Realm Connect scavenger hunt and text me on my cell phone. 


Peace,

Fr. John Mark

Weekly Letter, 06/12/2025

By John Mark Wiggers • June 12, 2025

Weekly Letter, 06/05/2025

By John Mark Wiggers • June 5, 2025

Weekly Letter, 05/29/2025

By John Mark Wiggers • June 5, 2025

Weekly Letter, 05/22/2025

By John Mark Wiggers • May 22, 2025

Weekly Letter, 05/15/2025

By John Mark Wiggers • May 15, 2025

Weekly Letter, 05/08/2025

By John Mark Wiggers • May 12, 2025
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.

Weekly Letter, 05/01/2025

By John Mark Wiggers • May 12, 2025
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.

Weekly Letter, 04/24/2025

By John Mark Wiggers • April 24, 2025
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.

Weekly Letter, 04/17/2025

By John Mark Wiggers • April 17, 2025
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.

Weekly Letter, 04/10/2025

By John Mark Wiggers • April 17, 2025
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.
Show More