Weekly Letter, 6/16/2022
The Rev John Mark Wiggers • June 15, 2022

Greetings, 


How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” Isaiah 52:7 (NRSV)


In these mountains in East Tennessee, St. James has been declaring Good News for almost 100 years. We will officially kick-off our celebration of this anniversary on Sunday, June 19. I hope you can join us in the parish hall following the 10:30 service where we will share more about our capital campaign. This is just the beginning of our celebration. I pray that we will celebrate our history and move forward into the future with hope. 


Sunday is also Juneteenth, the holiday that celebrates the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation reaching Texas in 1865 after the proclamation itself was made in January 1863. It took some time for that good news to spread and be applied. That is a reminder to me that we continue in the work of spreading hope, peace, and salvation. I find strength in sharing that work with you. 


In celebrating our centennial we have opportunities to share stories of our past. Those stories remind us of the faithfulness that brought us this present. We don't simply linger in reminiscence and nostalgia. Our story continues as we strive to do justice, love mercy, and humbly walk with God. Our capital campaign to enhance the facilities that support our ministry are a part of that story. The larger story unfolds as pray, study, and serve together. 


I celebrate that St. James is a community that continues to spread Good News in word and deed. Telling our story helps us see and give thanks for God present in our story. Your story of finding grace, hope, and community is a piece of that larger story. We tell our stories because there are those who don't know that grace, who are in need of healing, and who long for a community in which to belong. May our feet be beautiful as we share the message of Christ's love. 


Peace, 

Fr. John Mark

Weekly Letter, 05/08/2025

By John Mark Wiggers • May 12, 2025

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.

Weekly Letter, 04/03/2025

By John Mark Wiggers • April 17, 2025
Friends and Neighbors, The annual Nehemiah Action is this Tuesday, April 8. We gather with over 22 congregations to ask our leaders to commit to taking action on important community matters. This year, we are asking for commitments on housing instability, homelessness, and transportation. Please invite others to attend. Having a large number of people makes a difference. You can find the details in this newsletter. Your presence helps us bring more justice to our city.

Weekly Letter, 03/27/2025

By John Mark Wiggers • March 27, 2025
Lent is a season when we are particularly called to consider our sins and to amend our ways. Many of the messages we hear in our culture tend to focus on the sins of an individual. The witness of scripture places as much emphasis on corporate sins. In the story of Jonah, the whole city is called to repent. Prophets like Amos deliver the call for all those in power to stop mistreating the poor. In Nehemiah 5, we hear the story of Nehemiah gathering a great assembly to call for the leaders to stop the unfair lending practices harming their community. As faithful people, we are called to consider the ways that our life together touches the lives of others.

Weekly Letter, 03/20/2025

By John Mark Wiggers • March 20, 2025
I am writing this on the Feast of St. Joseph (March 19). This character in God's salvation story has an intriguing supporting role. He chooses to protect Mary and the expectant child despite the possible scandal. Joseph finds himself fleeing for Egypt to protect the newborn Jesus. We don't otherwise hear much from or about Joseph in scripture. He is a faithful person who sought to follow God in tough situations.

Free Bell Concert

By Tim Lett • March 7, 2025
Get ready to jingle all the way to the "Smoky Mountain Ring" - a sensational showcase of talent and community spirit! Join us on Saturday, April 5 @ 4:30 pm at Grace Lutheran Church, (9076 Middlebrook Pike), where The Bells of St. James will be ringing in harmony with several other talented handbell choirs under the expert guidance of clinician Brenda Austin. This vibrant concert is more than just a musical event; it's a heartwarming celebration of connection, inclusivity, and the joy of coming together as a community. We can't wait to see you there!

Weekly Letter, 03/06/2025

By The Rev. John Mark Wiggers • March 7, 2025
Friends and Neighbors, We enter the season of Lent. Lent can seem very focused on the individual. For sure, we are called to consider our sinfulness and mortality. We do not stay there, but turn our hearts to God's forgiveness and grace.
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