Friends and Neighbors, 

I am grateful. I am trying on my own advice to show up ready to be thankful. The things we practice shape who we are. St. James practiced being welcoming as we hosted the Diocese of East Tennessee Pride Mass this past Sunday evening. So many people expressed their gratitude for that event. I heard from someone that they decided to return to church after attending a Pride Mass a few years ago. Your practice of hospitality and welcome helps people find community. 

We have practices that bring us together as a community. I am grateful for the liturgy that gathers us using words curated over the centuries and shared across the Church. We give our money to keep this community doing the practices of worship, study, mercy, and justice. We gather for pancakes and learn that breaking bread together does indeed connect us. I find that being part of this community encourages me to keep up the practices of our faith (I don't like to practice). I am grateful that this parish calls me to keep up the practices. 

I encourage you to read this weekly email and see all the things we are doing here at St. James. Can we imagine these as practice, in the sense that we have something to learn? Like in athletics, that our teammates need us to be there with them? I am grateful that so many of you join in as we seek to love God and our neighbor through our ministries. I am grateful that God's grace doesn't call for practice to make perfect. The love of Christ shines through as we celebrate just loving the game. 

Peace, 

Fr. John Mark