Happy Christmastide! As we rest in the days to come, here are some ways to ponder and rejoice in this holy season. See you next Sunday! ~Peace, Kristin+ December 25 Merry Christmas! December 26 Today is St. Stephen’s Day. Stephen was the first martyr of the church, as recorded in Acts 7. December 27 The…
From the Rector -Christmas is coming! With joyful hearts we are preparing to celebrate Christmas and the gift of the birth of Jesus. In the midst of the holiday hubbub in your life, your help at church would be appreciated as well. The floors are being scrubbed to clean all the salt dust tracked in…
From the Rector -My Heart Shall Sing This Sunday we hear the great song of Mary, the Magnificat. This is the song she sings when she is greeted by her cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit…
From the Rector -Deck the Halls! Advent, and with it a new church year, began last Sunday. It was with great joy that we began this season with new blue swags hanging from the ceiling in the sanctuary. As many of you know, The Rev. Bill Doggett, who was the Interim Rector, built the apparatus…
From the Rector -Sharing the Good News through Social Media Who do you know that is looking for a place to make meaning in the midst of consumer overload this holiday season? Have you invited them to church? Does the thought of saying, “Hey, you should visit my church this Sunday” make you feel nervous? …
From the Rector – Advent in Darkness and Light ~ A Series Exploring the Season My favorite season of the church year is Advent. I love that just as the world around us speeds up, the Church in her wisdom created a season that invites us to slow down and pay attention to what’s really…
From the Rector – Seeing the Face of God in Each Other Last weekend over 20 Vestry members, staff, and ministry leaders from St. James’ attended a two-day antiracism workshop sponsored by the Diocese. It was challenging work – listening and dialoguing – about issues of power, class, and race in American history and today. …
In this week after another mass shooting, this time 26 people killed in their place of worship last Sunday, my heart has been heavy. Should we have had another service of lament, ringing our bells for those who died? How do we decide when to do this, and when not? Should we gather after every mass shooting? That would mean weekly services…
From the Rector – The Power of Grieving In this week after another mass shooting, this time 26 people killed in their place of worship last Sunday, my heart has been heavy. Should we have had another service of lament, ringing our bells for those who died? How do we decide when to do this,…
Last Sunday we heard the last two of our stewardship reflections on generosity. I was blown away again by the power of people sharing their stories with bold vulnerability. Thank you Jane Barger and Alan Nanavaty. This Sunday we will celebrate All Saints’ Day, giving thanks for all who have come before us in faith. We will remember those whom we love…