At St. James’ we try to make sure we show our welcome to passers-by along Thornton Ave with information on services displayed on a banner alongside a flag. Our flags include the Stars and Stripes (for national holidays and celebrations), the Episcopal Church flag (connecting us to our denomination and history) and the Pride flag (flown particularly in Pride month but also throughout the year). 

We are repeatedly told that the Pride flag is an important factor in encouraging new visitors, that it tells people we are a church of inclusion and welcome, and one that celebrates that God loves everyone. People who may have felt unwelcome at another church, who had family or friends who would not have been welcome somewhere else, seek us out because of that flag. 

The story of placing that flag out on the street hasn’t been smooth, while we have the support of those inside our community the flag has at times been removed by people and we have had to replace it. Each time we take a deep breath and know that there are many people living in communities where they are not supported and we have the strength and means to replace our flag – to hold fast to our message that God’s love, and our welcome, is for everyone. 

Do you have a story about how the flag outside St. James’ encouraged you to look at the Episcopal Church – did it mean something to you to see it there?  We’d love to include your experiences in an article about the importance of the Pride flag.

If you’d like to help us make sure we always have a flag ready to hang donations can be made, just label them ‘pride flag’. Each time we need to replace one it costs around $100.

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Budget Meeting

The annual budget meeting is taking place on Sunday, January 12 2025 at 9:15 in the Education Room. This important meeting allows you a look at our income and expenses and the opportunity to ask any questions. Grab a cup of coffee and join us!

Annual Meeting

The annual meeting takes place on Sunday, January 19 2025.

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Over the summer, we, the Steering Committee members, have been collating everything we heard, and we saw that we’d reflected on several areas where we’re following our values as a community and as a church. We wanted to celebrate these with everyone, and so we’re sharing them here…

At St. James’, our spiritual values are deeply rooted in the teachings of Jesus and the Gospel, emphasizing love, compassion, and faith. Living by love of God and neighbor along with celebrating significant life events through ceremonies are core values. We strive to create a welcoming and safe community where individuals can share their stories and grow together. We are committed to acknowledging and learning from the broader church’s history while actively engaging in environmental stewardship through sustainable practices. Our church is dedicated to addressing global suffering and issues, encouraging renewal and transformation in our approach to faith and community. Through visibility on social media and enriching sermons, we aim to embody Christian values and foster a strong sense of fellowship and worship. The church embraces values of being loving, liberating, and life-giving.

The church emphasizes the importance of scripture, offering gatherings beyond Sunday services. A balance of traditional and contemporary music enriches the worship experience. Meaningful liturgical practices, rituals, and prayer are central to spiritual life. We strive to embody the Gospel, living out our faith in God, in and beyond worship.

We emphasize a community-based, positive environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging. We welcome everyone warmly, ensuring no one feels like a stranger. We encourage diversity and honor the LGBTQ+ community. We make newcomers feel at home by wearing name tags and engaging in conversations. Offering quality refreshments like good coffee helps foster fellowship. Addressing difficult topics with honesty and compassion is important.

We celebrate life transitions and provide ministry to the sick through Eucharistic Visitors. We prioritize children and youth through Sunday School, Youth Group, and Summer Camp. We invite people to participate in various roles, such as ushering and many other ministries. We ensure everyone feels involved and appreciated, recognizing the contributions of our seniors.

St. James’ prioritizes clear and accessible communication. The church calendar is kept up-to-date in the parish hall and online. Enhancing the website ensures information is consistent and accessible. Making worship services familiar and accessible to all is a key focus. St. James’ will continue to be a place of hope, belonging, and spiritual growth for all its members.

We are working towards a discussion with the vestry about potential areas of further exploration. We expect to have this discussion at an upcoming Vestry meeting.

Mike Scrutton, V+T Steering Team Leader

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Awareness of COVID protocols and risks has been the responsibility of all our church community and is overseen by our Regathering Team. We thank everyone for their vigilance since we regathered in 2021. If we are made aware of a positive COVID case after a church event or service (by a phone call or email to the office or a member of staff) it remains our policy to inform anyone who sat close to the individual that they may have been exposed. We do not share the name of the person who had a positive test. This policy will continue until Palm Sunday, March 24th 2024.

Covid Protocols & The Common Cup

Dear Community of St. James’,

We have traveled a long road from March 2020 to today. The road has taken many turns and iterations. We have gone from a complete lock-down with video-taped services, to going “live” in an empty sanctuary with all of you worshiping at home, to registration-based in-person services, to proof of vaccination, to today, praising God together as One Body. We rejoice in the ability to be together as well as the unexpected blessing of virtual worship realized as a result of the pandemic.

At my request, the Regathering Team met late in April to discuss changing a few of our COVID protocols.

Effective May 28, on the Feast of Pentecost, we will be returning to sharing wine from a common cup at both the 8:00 and 10:30 services. This follows the example of Grace Cathedral and other parishes in our diocese. Additionally, we will move from using hosts to using bread for Holy Communion at the 10:30 service. At both services, we will discontinue the act of intinction (dipping the bread/host) completely. The only way to consume the wine will be to drink from the cup.

I would like to address the likely concerns about the common cup.

Studies show there is minimal risk of virus transmission through drinking from the same vessel (see resources below), and there have been no documented cases of Covid-19 being passed from one person to another through a shared cup. This concern was widely studied in the 1980s during the AIDS pandemic and it was determined then, and reaffirmed today, that virus transmission is unlikely. In fact, it is well known that intinction, the dipping of the bread or host into the chalice, is less sanitary than drinking from the cup. There are more bacteria on our fingers than on our lips, and while each person is careful, it is not uncommon for fingers to hit the wine in the act of dipping, thus contaminating the wine for those following. From a theological point of view, drinking from the cup is preferable to intinction, as we are called to receive communion, not to take communion. It is for these reasons we will no longer be intincting.

I want to stress that consuming just the host or bread, communion in one kind, is to receive full and complete communion. I trust you will make decisions as to the best practice for you and your family. If you opt to not take the wine, you are invited to move to the chalice, cross your arms over your chest, and the Eucharistic Minister will offer you the words, “the Blood of Christ, the Cup of Salvation” as a symbolic gesture of communion in both kinds.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we continue to navigate the changing landscapes of this time.

In Christ, Lori+

May 2nd 2023

Resources:
(1) COVID-19 and the Common Cup, July 30, 2021. This source summarizes data outlined more thoroughly in resource 3 below.

(2) COVID-19 and Holy Communion, August 20, 2020, National Library of Medicine.

(3) The Common Cup and SARS-CoV-2 Infection Risk, March 29, 2022
The Reverend Michael Garner MSc MDiv, Public Health Advisor to the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa

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On December 2, our diocesan convention will gather to elect the next bishop.  All canonically resident clergy and delegates elected by each congregation can vote.  We have four delegates representing us.

On November 4, you will have a chance to meet the three candidates that are running to be our next bishop.  This “meet and greet” event will be held at St. James’ from 6:00-8:00pm.  It will also be live-streamed should you not be able to be with us in person.

On May 5, 2024, we will consecrate and install our new bishop and she/he will begin leading our diocese.

Since we will be electing a new bishop, it is important to know what a bishop is called to do.  The Book of Common Prayer’s Ordination of a Bishop and The Episcopal Church’s Canons outline the duties of a bishop.

The ordination service asks each person if they believe they are persuaded by God to proclaim the Gospel, to guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the Church, to administer the sacraments, to ordain deacons and priests, and to participate in the ordination of bishops.  It further asks if they are called to share in the leadership of the Church throughout the world.  In her/his daily life, the bishop is expected to be a faithful pastor and wholesome example for the entire flock of Christ.

Practically speaking, a bishop is to make a visitation to each church every three years as dictated by the canons.  On occasion, the bishop may issue a Pastoral Letter to the clergy and people of the diocese and may ask the clergy to read out loud the letter to the congregation.  At the diocesan annual convention, the bishop is to report on the “State of the Diocese” and is to include the names of the congregations visited, the number of persons confirmed and received, the names of those admitted into the process to become ordained, and those suspended or deposed from exercising ordained ministry.

One of the symbols of a bishop is a staff, often made of wood.  This is similar to the staff held by shepherds as they guide their sheep, ever reminding us that our bishop is our shepherd, leading us into the future to do God’s work in the world.

Please pray for the candidates, for our diocese, and for a process that is infused with grace and the Holy Spirit, bringing us the person who will partner with us in ministry.

Lori+

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We are blessed to have effective vaccines and booster shots to combat and minimize the results of the COVID19 virus. We give thanks for the science and scientists who have worked diligently to find an adequate response to what would otherwise continue to be a deadly illness. We have come a long way from where we began in March of 2020.

Your Regathering Task Force met recently to discuss our protocols. We acknowledge that the infection rate is significantly lower than ever before, and the number of people of vaccinated is high. As of this writing, the California infection rate is 20% lower than the past two weeks. 95% of those over 65 years of age in Alameda County are vaccinated, and 85% of all ages are vaccinated. We know that COVID19 will likely be with us into the future but are confident in the efficacy and availability of inoculations.

To that end, we are modifying our protocols effective November 6 2022.

1. Masks will still be strongly recommended, but not required.
2. Those serving at the altar, as ushers, and as hospitality hosts will still wear masks.
3. Vaccination status will not be verified, though we strongly recommend the most recent boosters, and request people are vaccinated.
4. The churches will still be ventilated but can be modified to accommodate the weather.
5. The choir will return to offer anthems and musical leadership.
6. Holy water will be returned to the fonts located at each entry.
7. Coffee hours will be both inside and outside for folks to choose where they’d like to sit.
8. Wine will be offered by intinction (dipping the host into the wine), with the clergy intincting the host for the communicant.

For some, this news will be welcome. For others, there will be some residual concern. If you opt to not wear your mask indoors, please be sensitive to those who are still masking. You might choose to sit with others who are unmasked or to create distance between you and others. We want everyone to be both comfortable and welcomed. We are an inclusive church of generosity and care. As a community, we can demonstrate this generosity and care by being sensitive towards others, especially as we continue to find our way in this post-lockdown era.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we move forward. Please do not hesitate to reach out to any member of the Regathering Task Force: me, Jim McConnell, Sylvia Ma, Mike Scrutton, Jan Scrutton or Jennifer Ravera.

In Christ and with love,
Rev Lori +

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Dear Members of St. James’,

I write to you in the name of Jesus Christ, the one who shows deep and abiding love and compassion for all.
 
This time last year we were all sure we’d be back to “normal”.  However, we all know that is not the case.  In fact, the Delta variant is more potent and more contagious than the original Covid-19 virus.  Our saving grace, however, is the development of a vaccine that can prevent us from becoming severely ill or dying from the virus.  That said, we cannot ignore the fact that our children are still not able to get a vaccine.  We also cannot ignore that there have been break-through cases that may severely impact our elderly and more vulnerable members.  Additionally, if someone vaccinated is a carrier without knowing it, passing it on to an unvaccinated person could cause serious illness or death.  Simply said, a gathering of mostly vaccinated people greatly reduces the risk of infection.
 
Jesus calls us to community, which is one of the reasons we gather together for common worship.  Jesus also calls us to love one another.  One of the hallmarks of Christian community is not just that we love one another, but how we love one another. In this time of continued pandemic, the most tangible way we can care for each other is to not be at an indoor service or gathering without a vaccination. 
 
It is for this reason that we will be requiring the wearing of masks and proof of vaccination for all eligible people. This requirement comes with the full support of the vestry and follows the strong recommendation of our diocese. It does not apply to those with a documented medical condition. In order to keep all of our children safe, we recommend all eligible children receive vaccinations and boosters whenever possible. While we are not requiring proof of boosters, we imagine that at some point in the near future, we will. Being fully vaccinated means having both the initial inoculations and a booster.

Before entering the church building, you will be asked to show proof.  The following proof is acceptable:

• Your physical vaccination card
• A photocopy of your vaccination card
• A picture on your phone of your vaccination card
• A QR code obtained through the State of California 
• A QR code from one of these third-parties:
  •     Clear HealthPass

Since we will not be keeping records, you will be asked to show proof every Sunday that you attend church and for other meetings and gatherings on campus. If you are a regular participant in worship, an alternative to showing your vaccination card or QR code each Sunday would be to get a wristband from an usher after showing your proof. This way, you need only wear your wristband to church as proof you are vaccinated.

I understand that this may cause some of you to not be able to attend church physically. If this is the case, please worship online with us and the rest of our virtual congregation by going to our website on Sunday mornings.

We look forward to the day when we can all be together without restriction. Until then, we remain the Body of Christ, stretched across the Tri-City area and beyond.

Blessings as we show compassion and care for each other. Please know that I am holding each of you in prayer, and ask that you hold me in prayer as well.

Lori+

Vaccination Resources

• Alameda County vaccination resources

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The Service can be joined either via Zoom, or from the saintj.com homepage

8:30am Coffee Hour on Zoom
9:15am Annual Meeting
10:30am Live-Streamed Worship Service

Submitted reports can be found on our ‘Reports’ page.

• The written Annual Report for 2020 can be found here.
• The financials and budget for 2020/2021 can be found here.
• The minutes of the 2020 Annual Meeting can be found here.

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The Task Force has come up with a document to answer many of your questions that you can reach here. Please do not hesitate to reach out to any member of the Task Force with your concerns, further questions, or comments.

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I have always been a firm believer that when things have gotten tough in my life, that I will be a stronger person for having gotten through the struggle. I have seen this many times; from my broken marriage, to my layoffs at my work, to my dad’s passing.

I am in a rough spot right now, as I wrestle with what church music will look like for the months ahead.

Leading scientists and singing experts have let us know that singing in groups (like at church services) is dangerous right now, because more air is used in singing than in speaking. So, corporate singing is not available for congregations until there is a vaccine.

So…what to do?

As a church musician, my main focus in church has always been the music. But I have been thinking that I now have an opportunity to focus on some other aspects of worship.

Since I’ve been hosting Zoom Coffee Hours and Social Hours, I’ve seen the importance of community and connectedness that people need and crave, especially during this time of sheltering in place. These social times are a form of worship that are very meaningful. Please let me know if you’d like to join us – we have people of all ages on Zoom; we can help you with computer issues! 

I’ve had an opportunity to become more familiar with recording technology during these past months. The hymns last Sunday were recorded with my Garage Band app, and all the voices you heard were mine, but on different tracks. I also used different tracks on my recording of Veni Sancte Spiritus on Pentecost Sunday. This new technology is not within my comfort zone, but I am happy to learn new things in order to enhance the worship experience for all of us.

I am also concentrating on the text of songs and prayers a lot more than I used to. When singing, I tend to think more of whether I am playing or singing the correct musical notes than about the text. My choir members know that I often sing the wrong verse of a hymn because I get “off” of the line of text – I always tell them not to trust me; they know best what verse they are on! But now that I am relying on recordings and listening more than performing live, I find myself pondering the text of the hymns and really thinking about the deeper meanings of what the authors meant, and how each hymn relates to the readings of each Sunday.

When we are able to worship together, it will not be the “same as usual” right away. There will be restrictions and new rules and some parts of worship will be excluded. This is not a bad thing – it is just different. And there is great possibility for wonderful new things to happen in the future to transform our worship, when we can all come together to worship again. 

Lori had asked the Vestry and staff to “think boldly” at our yearly retreat in January. I believe we can still think boldly. Think boldly about what St. James’ can be for the future, when we come through these trying times. What could we be? What an opportunity we really have! As C.S. Lewis said, what is our “extraordinary destiny”?

~Jennifer Ravera

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It is as if life has stopped, isn’t it? A halting of routines, habits and patterns disrupted, negotiating shared space in ways we’ve never done before, having a game plan for grocery shopping, and not being able to run to the doctor for non-life-threatening concerns.  We are living in strange times and nothing seems “normal”. But perhaps this is just the view from our own window. In reality, life goes on. People die, and not just from Covid-19. People are born. People are even falling in love. I watched a short clip on CBS This Morning about a man who saw a woman dancing on a nearby rooftop while he stood on his. He waved. She waved back. Soon he sent his drone over to her with his phone number taped to it and she called him. Since then, they have shared several dinners over FaceTime and have even walked down the street together while he walked in a huge rubber protective bubble holding flowers. Love in the time of corona. Life lives because God lives. We see evidence all around us of the Living God. The cycles of life cannot be disrupted, and love cannot be silenced. When I look out of my window, I look for love. And I see it. I see it in flowers cared for by my neighbor. I see it in the couple walking their dog, hand-in-hand. I see it in the bird feeder filled with seed in the backyard. I see it in the care expressed over computer screens, and I see it in your faces when I imagine seeing you all again. Soon, and until then, we know that love abounds.

Lori+

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On Sunday we begin Holy Week in a way we’ve never begun Holy Week. The altars at St. James’ will stand bare and the pews will not be filled. But Pierre Teilhard de Chardin reminds us that the whole earth is our altar, that in this time of being homebound, we need only cast our eyes upon any surface – the dinner table, the bedside table, a backyard ledge, even a flat rock – to find an altar from which to worship God. This week, you are invited to create your own home altar in order to mark the days of Holy Week. Find a space to make holy. It need only be a small corner, but a place set aside for your prayers and your worship. You can use this altar to lay out your Holy Week @ Home items. You can use this altar for your daily prayers. You can use this altar beyond this week and beyond this sheltering. For more ideas on home altars, I commend to you this article: https://rowsofsharon.com/2020/03/24/making-an-altar-for-home/.

As we move into the sacredness of this time, look for the glimpses of God. They are everywhere as there is no structure, no one place that can contain the majesty and mystery of the Living God. Look for glimpses, and when you see them, give thanks for this opportunity to deepen our awareness and connection to the One for whom our altars are created.

Lori+

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The Service Bulletin for Morning Prayer, Rite II can be found here for you to join in.

The lessons for this Sunday, the Fifth Sunday of Lent, can be found here.

A Sunday School video for this Sunday can be found here.

This week’s sermon as an audio-only recording can be found here

For more online worship resources click here.

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If you haven’t seen it yet two of our families joined in learning the Lord’s prayer and the video of their combined efforts can be found here. Well done to those who had a go, and I’d love to see everyone else’s videos.

Once you have watched this week’s lesson please pick a scene from last weeks or today’s story and share a photo of your art work or models to illustrate the story. This week maybe you could illustrate Jesus washing his disciple’s feet, or the last supper with everyone at the table or Jesus blessing the bread and wine.

It would be great if I could have your photos by Friday so I have time to get some help assembling them into a slide show for everyone to enjoy.

I’m sending a couple more resources by email this week – if you haven’t received them and would like to drop me an email. One is the prayer sheet mentioned in this week’s class, the second is a palm picture which you can color in and cut out before Palm Sunday next week. We will miss processing round our campus together, but you can still parade around the living room!

Remember we would love to share any birthdays, anniversaries or celebrations in our weekly email so go ahead and let us know about those. Happy Birthday this week to Jules and Lucy!

Love and prayers,
Jan

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The Service Bulletin for Morning Prayer, Rite II can be found here for you to join in.

The lessons for this Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Lent, can be found here.

A Sunday School video for this Sunday can be found here.

For more online worship resources click here.

Our Music Director, Jennifer Ravera, has chosen this anthem that the choir would like to have sung this Sunday. It’s called “Grace” by Mark Hayes.

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The Service Bulletin for Morning Prayer, Rite II can be found here for you to join in.

The lesson sheet for this Sunday, the Third Sunday of Lent, can be found here.

A Sunday School video for this Sunday can be found here.

For more online worship resources click here.

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Readings

• Genesis 12:1-4a
• Psalm 121
• Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
• John 3:1-17

The lessons sheet can be found here.

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Some of the best tips around are in the St. James’ Gardening & Cooking Book published I believe in late 2017 for our 150th anniversary. Another way is the check with the local stores of Dale Hardware and Regan’s Nursery. They have a lot of native plants that require much less water than other ornamental non-native plants.

Our seasonal rainfall is greatly reduced so far this winter and we need to continue our conservation methods. We replanted our front lawn with the Wildflower Farm’s Eco-Lawn which took some doing since we do use herbicides. We read about this in the Sunset Magazine back during the drought and wanted to try something different. It truly is drought tolerant and you only have to mow it twice a year.

Some native plants I’ve had success with are California Sage, Ceanothus maritimus (Valley Violet), Ceanothus Skylark, Rhamnus Californica – Coffeeberry, and Arctostaphylos Emerald Carpet. All these naive shrubs can be purchased at Dale Hardware & Regan’s. They do change vendors periodically so that may create shortages. For ideas, check with your local St. James’ parishioners along with the California Native Plant Society. Lastly, remember to compost, and make it a way of life. Happy gardening.

~Gregg Feeney

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This fundraising and community outreach event could not have happened without all your help. There were more than 60 people who contributed time, talent and treasure not only on the night of the concert but in the months preceding the event. They wrote, sent out and uploaded publicity notices/ articles/blog; bought advertisements; designed, printed and posted flyers and signs; updated, hung and took down banners; set up email address and phone message; printed tickets; took messages; donated all those fabulous prizes for the drawings; took out and put away all the prizes on Sunday mornings; sold concert and drawing tickets; bought concert and drawing tickets; invited their family, friends and neighbors to the concert; cleared the facility calendar for the event; got contracts signed; signed contracts; booked hotel rooms for John McCutcheon and his road manager and for Red Tail Ring; borrowed and returned the stage from Trinity Episcopal Church in Menlo Park and the extra chairs from Harbor Light; wrote and made verbal announcements on Sundays; wrote announcements and articles for the weekly newsletter, Sunday bulletins and for the Window; cleaned up the campus; put up lights; directed traffic; set-up before the event and cleaned-up afterwards; bought stuff for the snack bar; baked dozens of delicious cookies; made coffee; helped with the snack bar; decorated and set up the Vestry Room for the Artist and Crew Dinner; cooked and served wonderful soups, salads, breads and desserts for the crew; donated wine, water and sodas; washed all the dishes; cleaned up the kitchen; set up and took down the dressing room; ushered; sold CDs and books for John McCutcheon and the Red Tail Wing; created and printed the programs; inserted the drawing prize list into the programs; showed great hospitality; did a wonderful job as MC/announcers; took photos; waited for the sound crew, Tesser, to set up the sound systems and the lights before the events and to pack everything up afterwards; volunteered to be the docent of our Little Church; did all the accounting and analysis …and countless people who offered prayers and encouragements along the way.

Thank you, we appreciate all your support and ministering.

~Sylvia Ma and the McCutcheon Team

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St. James’ Church celebrates Easter Sunday on April 12th this year. We will once again have lovely Easter Lilies decorating the church for the Easter Sunday service. Please help us with the decorating by providing a plant or plants in memory of a loved one or in thanksgiving for a loved one. The names of the donors and reason for the donation will be placed in the Easter bulletin. A sign-up sheet is posted in the Parish Hall. The cut-off date for names in the Easter bulletin is March 29, 2020. The suggested donation for each Easter Lily plant is $10.00. Envelopes are located by the Sign-Up sheets in the Parish Hall. You may also use your pledge envelopes. Please write “Lily Fund” on the memo line of your check. If putting cash in envelopes, please indicate “Lily Fund” on front of the envelope with your name. Envelopes may be placed in the pledge plates or in the office. Thank you for supporting St. James’ Easter Lily fund. If you have any questions, please contact Ruth Poole.

~Katie Cunningham

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One does not have to look far to find examples of everyday human beings, people like you and me, encountering God with open ears and open hearts, listening and watching in such a way that the encounter compels them to do something bold.  From the ordinary to the extraordinary.  Imagine Abraham standing under a night sky and looking at the stars scattered across the ink of darkness and knowing God is calling him forward.  Imagine Mary’s dawning awareness of the life within her, made known by an angel’s visit, but made real as that child was formed within her womb, her purpose growing as the child grew.  Imagine James and John on the docks of Galilee, seagulls squawking and fishermen bustling, pulling in nets to be distracted by this man who beckons to them to follow, and the invitation and the man are so captivating, they don’t even hesitate.

And finally, not an ordinary man but one with human nature, nonetheless, imagine Jesus in the wilderness, tempted by his own humanity, struggling with the demon, and then embracing the God and goodness within to reject sin.  Imagine him pouring out his life for the life of the world, pushing forward in spite of the danger, the naysayers, the arguments, the difficulty.  Imagine him as he walks from Judea to Jerusalem, from the river to the cross, determined, focused, and confident that he is never alone.

I have not counted myself, but I have heard it said that the phrase “fear not” or “be not afraid” is in the bible 365 times.  True or not, we know it pops up a lot.  If you think about it, this God-given message appears whenever someone is at a pivotal moment, facing something new or something unseen.  Abraham, Mary, James and John and even Jesus stand at the edge with the familiar and safe behind them, the unknown and scary in front of them, and they hear the message, “be not afraid.”  And why not be afraid?  Because in every situation they were following the call of God, hearing God’s voice either loud or soft, and trusting that God was with them every step of the way.  They stepped out in faith and were bold.  But not bold because they were so brave.  Bold because God had their backs.  Bold because there was nothing they were being asked to do in which God was not right there with them, giving them the strength and the patience and the gumption to do something different, something that would really matter.

This year, with the leadership of the vestry and (hopefully) the enthusiasm of the parish, we will be stepping out in faith to be bold.  On an individual basis, you might be challenged to make some significant changes in your life that better aligns you with what God has in mind for your life.  Could it be better self-care?  A new job?  A deeper prayer life?  What bold thing resonates with you?  On a communal level, the vestry will be looking at various ideas of how we, as Church, can be bold.  Could it be a more generous offering of our campus?  A more assertive sharing of our faith?  A more expansive welcome to the disenfranchised?  At this stage, we are still listening and dreaming, so I am not sure.  What I am sure about is that it is time.  Time to reenergize, time to move, time to matter, time to be bold.

As we move forward into this year, vestry and staff members will be sharing their stories of what it means to be “Emboldened by Faith” in their newsletter submissions.  Read them and meditate on your own stories of courage and join us as we faithfully walk into the future, knowing that God is with us, guiding, loving, and giving us all that we need to do the work we are meant to do.

~Lori+

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When I hear the phrase ‘Be Bold’ I am quickly transported to a Christian summer camp I worked on for two summers when I was 17 and 18. A very popular worship song those summers was the one above which started with the call and response Be bold! Be bold!, Be strong! Be strong! As you walked around camp you would hear brief outbreaks of the song as kids were engaged in other activities. I’d been on summer camps when I was younger, usually with Girl Guides so was used to campfire songs being popular, and I knew some of the Christian camp songs from my youth group experiences but this summer being at a camp that was centered on my faith was different. Being somewhere where Jesus was central, where fun and faith came together, where I learned about Jesus and was able to talk about prayer and faith with ease was a joy. Along with beach walks, swimming, kayaking, crafts and movies, we, the campers and staff, shared a real faith and had time and space to celebrate that. At the end of the session leaving was bittersweet but year after year, as I continued working at other church summer camps, I found the experience of faith shared would refresh and embolden me to carry my faith into a new year, at school and later at work. This is why I encourage families to consider our diocesan camps for their children and why each year I try and create a small space a St. James’ to bring that fun and faith together. But for all of us, worshipping and growing as Christians, in worship, through faith formation or socially gathering, can embolden us to go out and do the work God has given us to do. So draw from your faith and  – Be Bold!

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Who will win the Golden Halo?  Once again we follow along with Lent Madness, an all-for-fun “competition” among various saints of the church to see who will win the Golden Halo for 2020.  The poster will be in the Parish Hall this weekend, and if you want to vote for your favorite saint, please sign up at  https://www.lentmadness.org/ .   It’s all in good fun, and you’ll learn a ton about some saints you may have never heard of before!

Previous winners:
2019: Pandita Ramabai
2018: Anna Alexander
2017: Florence NIghtingale
2016: Dietrich Bonhoeffer
2015: Francis of Assisi
2014: Charles Wesley
2013: Frances Perkins
2012: Mary Magdalene
2011: C.S. Lewis
2010: George Herbert

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Baptismal Font, 1868, given by the Guild.
Window in memory of their son, given by H.E. Mosher and wife.
Window in memory of their daughter, 1897, given by H.E. Mosher and wife.
Chancel window, 1900 (about), given by J.A. Bunting.
Window, 1909, given by Mrs. M. Mowry and Miss Julia Emerson.
Window in memory of Camerons,1909, given by Mrs. H. Turnor and sister.
Missal Stand in memory of O.H. Allen, 1909, Widow M.C.A. Allen.
Window in memory of Clark Chandler, 1908 (est.), given by Mr. & Mrs. Ino Chandler.
Window in memory Howard Overacker, 1911, given by Mrs. H. Overacker.
Brass Altar Vases, 1911, given by Miss Julia Emerson.
Brass Altar Cross in memory of John Thomas Stevenson,1909, given by Mrs. Carrie Emerson.
Plain Hymn Board (not installed), 1904, made by R.E. Braden.
Mowry Window, 1921, given by Emily Mowry.
Bishop’s Chair in memory of Miss Eberly, 1927, given by Mrs. Kelly.
Priest’s Chair in memory of Miss M.C. Benson,1936, given by Mr. and Mrs. Bergstrom.
Chancel Light in memory of Col. & Mrs. George & Medora Kelly, 1937, given by Mrs. Alice Bergstrom.
Processional Cross in memory of Hannah Adams, 1939, given by Mr. & Mrs. Jos. Adams.
Altar Candlesticks in memory of Elizabeth Leachman 1939, given by the Rev. Charles Leachman & daughter Sheila.
Choir Pews in memory of Seymour Waterhouse, 1950, given by Dorothy W. Hill, daughter.
Loosmore Window in memory of Bert Loosmoore, 1985, given by his Wife and Friends.
Stations of the Cross, Mid 1980’s, given by Joe Gorman and the parish.
Early 1990’s, Altar frontals in memory of Richard H. Gifford, Robert H. Athearn, Mary J. Sacra, and Theodore Balderston, given by their families.
Missal Stand in memory of Laurie and Marti Davis, 2007, given by the Davis/Rodriguez family.
Candlesticks in memory of Sally and Les Brandt, 2007, given by Janice Brandt.
Vases, 2008, given by Kitty and Bob Reed and Mary and Al Casas.
Church Organ in memory of Gretchen Estelle Locher, 2011, given by Lynn and Ralph Locher.
Chalice and Paten in memory of Allana Devries, given by Family and Friends.
Holy Water Font in memory of Phillip Johnsen, 2011, given by Barbara Johnsen.
Ambry in memory of Brad Hoffman, 2015, given by Frank and Rose Hoffman.
Window dedicated to all who worship in the Little Church (past, present and future), 2017, Patti Lacy, Sylvia Ma, Roberta Tomkinson, and Laura Winter.
Lenox vase and blown glass vases in memory of Mary Auguardo & Louise Sigmon, 2019, by Richard Reynolds & Robert Sigmon.
There is no date or information for the Madonna of the Goldfinch painting.

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From where I sat the show surprised me. From the opening “Rank Stranger” by Ralph Stanley to the closing “Come on People” by the Youngbloods, every song felt like something new. John had fun playing on his new hammered dulcimer and showed us how it could sing. Accompanied by his new autoharp, John, Red Tail Ring, and the whole audience sang out on Bob Franke’s “The Great Storm Is Over.” How about when Laurel and John accompanied themselves on fiddle and Jew’s Harp – amazing!

What a Show! John sang a new, unrecorded song, “Hello Mother,” that touched a lot of hearts. Then there was Laurel and John’s version of “Shady Grove” played on both of their fiddles – just amazing! Michael told us that he wrote his song “Last Night Forever” in Norway when he had nothing to do – a beautiful love song.

Old favorites, “Room at the Top of the Stairs,” “Happy Adoption Day” (John has met so may wonderful people since he wrote that song), “Featherbed” (accompanied on hammered dulcimer) rang so true with the audience. “Christmas in the Trenches” told by the WWI soldier sure made us think about terribleness of war.

This show had a richness brought on by the beautiful, three-part harmonies of John, and Red Tail Ring (Laurel Premo and Michael Beauchamp-Cohen) singing together. Laurel and Michael’s harmonies blended so well – it’s their thing – on their new “Fall Away Blues” and other songs including “Working on a Building.” The “trio” received a standing ovation which prompted the final song “Come on People” – Smile on Your Brother. What a show from the sixth row!

~Bruce Roberts

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This five-week program encourages individuals and groups to explore the riches of our worship traditions, liturgy and sacraments, and the art and architecture of our worship spaces, revealing the full meaning of these signs, deepening our experience of Christian vocation and guiding us toward ongoing conversion.  Rev. Lori will spearhead teaching the class. 

The program will run Tuesday evenings, 7:00pm – 8:30pm on March 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31.  It will also run on Wednesdays after the morning service on March 4, 11, 18, 25, and April 1. 

We are looking for a volunteer to coordinate our traditional Soup Supper on Tuesday evenings at 6:30pm. If you are interested, please talk to Lori+ or Janet.

Please sign up in the Parish Hall.  Contact Rev. Lori (lori@saintj.com) or Janet Fischer (jfischer@saintj.com) with any questions.  Thank you!

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A sense of community that welcomed Lauren and me with open arms is what drew us to Saint James’.  

It did take some adjustment on our part because we were both raised as Roman Catholics, as were our children.  But when we became “empty nesters” we drifted away from regular church attendance and we became what I call “roaming Catholics”.  Maybe it was late “Baby Boomer” generation rebellion, but the Roman Catholic Church was going through several challenges that we were not comfortable with (i.e. women’s status and rights, gay marriage, pedophilia scandals, etc.).  So, we stopped attending church services. 

Then on Christmas Eve 2007 we decided to give church a try again.  But where?  We decided to check out St. James’. That night Charlie Nethercott was the greeter and made us feel like we were long lost friends and introduced us to many of the people who were there, including Reverend Bob Honeychurch.  And when we shared the Peace Blessing during Mass, it was like nothing we had experienced before.  Everyone was so open and welcoming that we decided to come to regular Sunday services, and we have been here ever since. 

For us St. James’ is a community where we can feel closer to God, where we can share our joy and fellowship during the happy times, and where we can count on solace and support in sad times.

We made it through the Catholic guilt phase and are now very Episcopalian and happy being part of the St. James’ community.

~Bob Doherty

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In the southeast portion of Washington state, along highway 260, traffic came to a standstill for 10 hours on New Year’s Eve.  It wasn’t snow, it wasn’t rain, it wasn’t a big accident that caused the standstill.  Instead, what forced miles of cars to stop driving were hundreds and hundreds of tumbleweeds.  Tumbleweeds.  Like in the western movies we grew up with.  Tumbleweeds are the last stage of the life cycle of plants commonly known as Russian thistle.  They spread by breaking off and bounding away, flinging seeds wherever the wind carries them.

This portion of the highway in Washington state is not foreign to tumbleweeds, but so many of these break-away skeletal plant spheres bouncing onto the highway at once was an odd occurrence.  According to the story by Jessica Leigh Hester, writing for Atlas Obscura, “The drivers braked, but the tumbleweeds kept coming, and they quickly blanketed the road and piled up between the cars. Within 30 minutes, vehicles were “completely encased,” … The tumbleweeds gathered along a strip of road roughly the length of three football fields, and some heaps reached 20 feet high, Thorson says, tall enough to swallow an 18-wheel semi truck.” As cars were covered, paint was scraped off their bodies and drivers were trapped inside their vehicles.  Even if they could open their doors to get out, they could not navigate the tumbleweeds without risking grave injury from the thorny and sharp weeds.  Eventually, snow plows arrived and workers cleared the highway of these pesky weeds, and everyone went along their way. [1]

I read this story a few weeks ago and the image of hundreds of tumbleweeds covering occupied vehicles, making it impossible for drivers to exit their cars or to even see beyond the weeds, has stuck with me.  These days, I often feel as if I am sitting alone in the midst of limited vision due to chaos outside, tumbleweeds bouncing around in the wind.  Along the road, a tumbleweed passes by and it might be a curious sight, but these days, it is as if these tumbleweeds just keep coming, one after another, until they’ve piled up and I am at a standstill.  Have you ever felt this way?  Like the world is offering one dead weed after another?  Like you’re sitting alone in a car unable to exit and unable to see the drivers in the other cars?  It could just be me, but whether you’ve felt this way or not, I think we can agree that there are an awful lot of tumbleweeds in our world, empty and useless circles of nothing clogging things up. 

While tumbleweeds blocked the highway, remember all of the nourishment and sustenance given to us, countering these distractions: living water, manna from heaven, the bread of life, loaves and fishes, wine from water, I could go on.  We need not get stuck in the distractions of what does not feed us.  We are gifted with a tradition and a religion that allows us to connect deeply to our sacred stories, stories that will create community and bring us to the other side of isolation.  Stories that will feed our souls.  Stories that will open wide our eyes so that we might see beyond the tumbleweeds.

Personally, I need these images of LIFE in my world.  I need to be reminded of the deep wells of nourishment within my reach, as close as my bible or my prayer to God.  Maybe you need to be reminded as well.  May your road be clear of tumbleweeds and filled with the life-giving and life-altering presence of the Living God, found in water, manna, bread.

Lori+

[1]atlasobscura.com/articles/tumbleweed-traffic-jam

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While the event will have passed by the time you read this article, the day that I am putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) is the day that our country is voting on whether or not to impeach the 45^th president of the United States.  It does not matter where you stand on the politics of this nation, nor does it matter whether you pay any attention to what is happening in our nation’s capital.  The fracturing of our country and democracy impacts all of us in some way.  On many days it seems we have lost our way, drifted far from our neighbors, forgotten our need for each other, wandered down a path of righteous anger and stubborn ideology.  A darkness has descended upon us.  Or perhaps more accurately, a darkness has been uncovered as I suspect the place we find ourselves today has been there for a time but is now being revealed.  So, darkness revealed.  Which is all the more reason for us to fight mightily to reveal something counter to this darkness – to reveal the light.

Revealing light takes courage.  It takes gumption and intention.  It takes faith.  Revealing light means standing not on one side or the other, but in the middle in order that all might be drawn to the center.  Revealing light means rising above the darkness, to travel up a hill of Truth, to hold that candle high in order that others might see a greater reality.  Revealing light means using the life and teachings of our faith, the belief in God’s mercy and goodness, as the foundation for that light.  Revealing light means to play an essential role in today’s world.

In order to reveal this light, we need to be bearers of this light, to hold it and let it shine.  Today, we need light-bearers.

It is the season of Epiphany, the period of time when we look up to see a star leading us to the greatest light of them all, Jesus Christ.  So let us not delay in this important work.  Let us bear witness to the Light of the World today.

I offer you this blessing, written by United Methodist Church minister, author and artist, Jan Richardson.  May we all be the ones who can bear the light so that the light, not the darkness, shall overcome.

Blessed are you
who bear the light
in unbearable times,
who testify
to its endurance
amid the unendurable,
who bear witness
to its persistence
when everything seems
in shadow
and grief.

Blessed are you
in whom
the light lives,
in whom
the brightness blazes—

your heart
a chapel
an altar where
in the deepest night
can be seen
the fire that
shines forth in you
in unaccountable faith,
in stubborn hope,
in love that illumines
every broken thing
it finds.

Jan Richardson, Circle of Grace

~Lori+

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In 2001 my family began attending church service at St. James’ after relocating from the Peninsula. Initially, we attended service when we could not commute to our former church located in the Peninsula for Sunday service or for other activities. However, we later decided to make St. James’ our home church due to convenience. Our children could attend services on their own when we as parents were not able. Also, they enjoyed participating in the youth group services in the evening, bringing along a few of their friends.

Although I chose St. James’ for convenience, the welcoming attitude of the Rector in charge (Rev. Honeychurch), and some of the parishioners who interacted with me were an essential factor in my decision to stay. Not only have I continued to stay, but I have also chosen to participate in some of the church’s ministries when I am available. There has been an improvement in my participation, especially in the last eight years, because Rev. Lori’s genuineness and the selfless efforts of some of my fellow parishioners motivated me.  Additionally, I find my involvement in outreach programs to be very fulfilling.

Lastly, over the years, I have observed St. James’s growth in membership and ministries. I had witnessed member’s testimonies about their experience at St. James’, describing their religious transformation as a result of the welcoming attitude of the St. James’ community. This is the same environment I distinctly remember as once a new member.  I will continue to be a member of the community and strive to participate in the ministries as our Lord directs me.

~Josephine Amadi

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