Dear Friends,

Last week I joined others at the funeral of The Rev. David Hackett. Many of you knew David from his time as interim rector at St. James. I learned that many years earlier, Fr. Hackett was a member of St. James, discerned a call to ministry, and was eventually ordained right here at 1101 Broadway. Another fun connection was that David led the project to replace the pews with chairs while serving at St. Timothy's, Signal Mountain. I give thanks for the ministry of David Hackett here and in the broader church. 

As we celebrate 100 years as a parish, we have many people to celebrate. This community has been built by faithful people offering their gifts. We continue to gather people seeking to love God and their neighbor. I know that I do that so much better when I walk with others. Faith isn't just a personal thing. Do justice, living faithfully, and loving mercy happen in the life of a community. 

As we celebrate independence day, I am grateful that we live in a nation where we are allowed to worship freely. I celebrate also the fact that we are a country that allows us to question and critique our past and the present. As followers of Christ, we do so with a belief that there is a way to repent of the failures of the past and to bring something new into being. We are a community that follows Christ into the world. 

It is summer and many of us are traveling and enjoying warm weather. I remind you to keep up your pledges to the general budget and to the capital campaign. I also hope that you will be able to join us for a Friendship Circle dinner on Monday, July 24. There will be more changes as the renovation rolls on. (Have you seen the building after it was washed?) We give, we gather, we renovate so that we can continue to do ministry in the community. Thank you for offering yourself in the long line of faithful people who have made St. James a witness to the transforming love of Christ. 

Peace, 

Fr. John Mark