Weekly Letter, 11/17/2022
The Rev John Mark Wiggers • November 16, 2022

Dear Friends,


We live in time and know God working through time. Even those of us who aren't on time are always in time. This coming Sunday is often called the Feast of Christ the King. It is the last Sunday of the church year. We sing and speak of Christ as the ruler over all on this day. It signifies our belief that God is bringing things to fullness in time. While we are encouraged in the hope that God reigns over all, we are also challenged by God showing that power by way of the cross. We can try to explain it but the mystery draws us deeper. 


In much of life, we can't always predict the outcome. With our Centennial building project, we have plans, and yet I know that we will be surprised by the challenges we meet along the way. I am also sure that we will be delighted by the changes when we experience them. Thank you to everyone who has made a pledge and started giving. Every gift makes a difference. Please consider how you can invest in this project that will support our continued ministry. 


Next is Thanksgiving. Remember that we have a brief Holy Eucharist on Thanksgiving day at 10:00 AM. November 27 is the first Sunday of Advent. Time is moving on. Advent is a wonderful season to consider how we make use of our time. In the midst of increasing busy-ness and consumption, pause to breathe deeply and be still. 


Thank you for the gift of your time that you bring to the ministry of St. James.



Peace, 

Fr. John Mark

By John Mark Wiggers June 12, 2025
By John Mark Wiggers June 5, 2025
By John Mark Wiggers June 5, 2025
By John Mark Wiggers May 22, 2025
By John Mark Wiggers May 15, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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