Weekly Letter
John Mark Wiggers • April 7, 2022

Dear Friends, 

I was joking with a friend that it feels like Lent was much shorter this year. Holy Week begins this Sunday as we celebrate Palm Sunday. I wrote a little bit about Holy Week on my blog. I encourage you to check that out and to make some time to join with others in these ancient liturgies. I deeply appreciate that our faith doesn't gloss over and deny suffering, evil, and death. Those things are real, and we have constant reminders of that reality. Holy Week names quite vividly the truth that God in Christ has joined us in those depths and that hope, love, and life triumph. We don't linger in Holy Week. We move right into Easter as we celebrate the resurrection. 

I also want to celebrate all the good ministry that goes on around St. James. The ECW raised more than $5,000 at the rummage sale. So many people spent hours working to make that happen. St. James had a great turnout for the Justice Knox Rally. Mark May 3rd at 7 pm on your calendar for the Nehemiah Assembly at World's Fair Park Amphitheater. Our Centennial Capital Campaign team continues to meet and weigh priorities. I am excited to say that some drawings for construction/renovation plans should be coming soon. I will be asking some leaders to make their pledges soon, and we will have a big reveal of plans on May 22. All this is happening while our ongoing ministries continue to feed and serve. Thanks for all the life and light you bring. 

Come and join in prayer and worship with your community. Know that community is a source from which you are nurtured and empowered by THE Source of all things. Come and bring all of who you are. Receive in return the Body of Christ. Go forth as the Body of Christ, the bread of life for the world. 

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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