Weekly Letter, 6/9/2022
The Rev. John Mark Wiggers • June 8, 2022

Dear Friends,


Opportunities for ministry and service abound around St. James. We have had some funerals, Pride Mass, farewells, and baptisms. We have also continued to feed our neighbors, do justice, and study and pray together. I want to say thank you for being a congregation that rises to serve and meet the needs of our parish and the community. It is a pleasure to serve with you. 


We wished Fr. RJ well, but we will be seeing him again. You guys throw a great party. Ashley Burell has been on medical leave and will be back soon. Tim Lett has gracefully filled in at the organ. Andrew Brittain has been directing the choir. Thanks so much to Tim and Andrew. We are blessed to have talented folks to help out. 


In the midst of so many things going on we are beginning to celebrate our 100 year anniversary. We will kick off our capital campaign on June 19. Join in the celebration after the 10:30 service as we unveil the plans for improving our space. The ECW will be hosting a picnic on July 9 where they will highlight some important folks in the history of St. James. Everyone is welcome. How can your ministry group help celebrate? What are the stories you have to share? 


There are so many things happening in our parish and in the world. I make it a point to resist the urge to describe my life as "busy". I find that is a description that leads me down a road of desperate frustration. Watching the news these days can lead to despair. While I don't want to deny those feelings, I don't want to let those feelings dominate. I am called back to a place of hope and meaning when I take time to pray on my own and with you. Our life of prayer and worship can be an act that helps us see Christ in our world. In all that we do, may we continue to turn to Christ. 


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.
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