Weekly Letter, 7/14/2022
The Rev John Mark Wiggers • July 13, 2022

Dear Friends, 


"The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork." (Psalm 19:1, NRSV)


Have you seen the photographs from the James Webb Space Telescope? They offer amazing beauty and a glimpse into creation. In the vastness of that creation we are loved by God and love God because God first loved us. The same power that is birthing stars made us and continues to create in and through us. 


In our corner of the universe we continue to know God's love creating and transforming. We claim God is working even when the news reports are rather grim. Our faith calls us to bring love to those broken and hurting places in our world. You do that as you feed our neighbors, tell your stories, and seek justice in our community. You are sharing love when you care for each other in times of need. Your ministry to each other tells the glory of God. 


While we are doing ministry now, we are also looking for ways to strengthen and support our ministry. Our Centennial Capital Campaign is underway. See the information below to learn more and pledge to this vision for our future. Also note that we are looking for stories of your experience at St. James. Celebrate by sharing a story with us all. 


I long for a good St. James feast where we can share stories and be together. It seems that COVID numbers rise and fall as variants of the virus abound. I am thankful for all the ways that you have found to connect and do ministry during this time. Like the universe, we go through change and transformation. Stars and galaxies abound, and God is praised. 


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.
Show More