On December 17, Jesus in all His glory was in the house at St. James, as a multitude of His servants arrived, starting at 8:00AM to serve the homeless in our central city area.
Red Door Clothes served about 130 adults and provided clothes for 45 kids, in an atmosphere of joy. In the kids’ area was a long pew filled to overflowing with stuffed animals and dolls which was emptied, but for a couple of scraggly dogs at closing.
At 11:00AM, the doors of the main church opened to receive those who had come for The Gathering’s Christmas dinner. They were greeted by singers and instrumentalists from The Gathering’s board, St. Mark, and St. James, leading carols. Believe me, you knew Jesus was in the house as you heard our guests singing carols joined by a scattering of members of St. James in the audience.
The Gathering served 330 people a full Christmas meal that day, with a crew of volunteers from a Methodist church in Greenfield.
As the guests left, Sundries at The Gathering were on hand with the usual sundries, plus special items and goodie bags. One hundred and eighty-seven were served that day.
Thanks to the many servers who were on hand at Red Door Clothes, caroling, and Sundries.
Deacon Ned Howe
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Walk With Me
Often when I arrive or am leaving St. James, I see someone out on the wall that is on my “nagging list.” I greet them saying, “Walk with me.” The walking may be short or long, depending on the person talking. It is a time for me to be silent and listen. It can be a time for me to question or praise or nag. Sometimes a referral is suggested. It is always a time to reinforce the person as a person and to remind him where the power is.
Leading up to that walk and conversation, at some time past, had been a meeting and encounter at some activity at St. James that made the person feel welcome and led to an initial conversation. This is not unlike what happens when someone enters our church for their first time. We greet them with love. We make certain they are comfortable with all the stuff we give them at the door. We follow up at fellowship to make sure they feel welcome and meet our family.
All the above is right on as far as it goes. We have welcomed them into the family we call St. James. We have then just begun to take our walk with this person. Our walk must now lead to the presence of Christ.
There is an old hymn that talks about walking with Jesus. It goes something like this: and He walked with me and He talked with me, and He told me I was his own… If we are icons of Jesus, then we can take this walk with those who come seeking a new way of life. If we ask our new friend to walk with us, we open the opportunity to share our love of Jesus. We offer our presence to help them into their own journey to Jesus.
Walk with me: tell me what you are seeking. I’m here to listen. What is your heart telling you. How can we help? Walk with me: let me share my walk with you. Let me share with you how having Jesus in my life has changed my life. Walk with me: I will bring you together with other members of our St. James family who will share with you and walk with you.
Walk with us and together we will do those things Jesus would have us do, serving in His name. Walk with us and be a part of feeding the hungry at the Gathering or clothing the needy at Red Door Clothes, or aiding with means of hygiene at Sundries. Or be present at the burial of those without family as representatives of Jesus by our presence so they are not alone.
You may want to walk with us in one of the myriad of activities that bring together our family at Sunday Eucharist. As we walk together serving Jesus in these many ways, we find ourselves growing closer to Jesus. We find ourselves feeling His love every time a guest says thank you or God bless you or just gives a big smile. For some of them, saying those words or showing a smile may be a big step out of the lonely world they exist in. This sharing is for me the ultimate proof of the love of Jesus in my life. Walking together we all can experience this love and grow stronger knowing it all comes from Jesus.
Any time I say, “Walk with me,” I never know what the result may be that particular time. Experience shows me that the important part is asking the question. In doing so, we have opened a door. What follows comes from Jesus.
Remember the words of Jesus to the fishermen: follow me. It remains the same today. We ask, Walk with me, so together we can follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
Deacon Ned Howe
Leading up to that walk and conversation, at some time past, had been a meeting and encounter at some activity at St. James that made the person feel welcome and led to an initial conversation. This is not unlike what happens when someone enters our church for their first time. We greet them with love. We make certain they are comfortable with all the stuff we give them at the door. We follow up at fellowship to make sure they feel welcome and meet our family.
All the above is right on as far as it goes. We have welcomed them into the family we call St. James. We have then just begun to take our walk with this person. Our walk must now lead to the presence of Christ.
There is an old hymn that talks about walking with Jesus. It goes something like this: and He walked with me and He talked with me, and He told me I was his own… If we are icons of Jesus, then we can take this walk with those who come seeking a new way of life. If we ask our new friend to walk with us, we open the opportunity to share our love of Jesus. We offer our presence to help them into their own journey to Jesus.
Walk with me: tell me what you are seeking. I’m here to listen. What is your heart telling you. How can we help? Walk with me: let me share my walk with you. Let me share with you how having Jesus in my life has changed my life. Walk with me: I will bring you together with other members of our St. James family who will share with you and walk with you.
Walk with us and together we will do those things Jesus would have us do, serving in His name. Walk with us and be a part of feeding the hungry at the Gathering or clothing the needy at Red Door Clothes, or aiding with means of hygiene at Sundries. Or be present at the burial of those without family as representatives of Jesus by our presence so they are not alone.
You may want to walk with us in one of the myriad of activities that bring together our family at Sunday Eucharist. As we walk together serving Jesus in these many ways, we find ourselves growing closer to Jesus. We find ourselves feeling His love every time a guest says thank you or God bless you or just gives a big smile. For some of them, saying those words or showing a smile may be a big step out of the lonely world they exist in. This sharing is for me the ultimate proof of the love of Jesus in my life. Walking together we all can experience this love and grow stronger knowing it all comes from Jesus.
Any time I say, “Walk with me,” I never know what the result may be that particular time. Experience shows me that the important part is asking the question. In doing so, we have opened a door. What follows comes from Jesus.
Remember the words of Jesus to the fishermen: follow me. It remains the same today. We ask, Walk with me, so together we can follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
Deacon Ned Howe
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Vestry Notes for December 2011
St. James’ Vestry met for the first time under the leadership of our Rector, Lisa Saunders, on Wednesday, December 21, 2011. We enjoyed the new configuration of the lounge as a place to meet and be with each other, but more especially the presence and direction Mother Lisa provided.
Format Change
Our format has changed slightly, though it begins, after opening prayer, as previously, with a check-in as to where the various members find themselves. We were guided by an agenda that comprised the following sections: Formation (check-in and meeting format); Information (approval of minutes, items that have arisen as a general rector’s report, reports from the deacons and wardens, other reports); Discussion (a single topic each meeting inviting general comment rather than a decision); and Decision (items necessary for decisions, Treasurer’s report, this month the proposed budget to be presented at the Annual Meeting). As always, the meeting ended with a closing prayer, delivered by Deacon Terry.
Highlights of the Meeting
Information highlights included preparation for the Christmas services, announcement of the January 19th singalong “Sound of Music” at 6:00PM, and the possibility of having social work interns helping with our various outreach programs and grant-writing.
All in all, it was a generous, loving, and prayerful meeting: a positive move into St. James’ future with Mother Lisa.
Gust Olson
Format Change
Our format has changed slightly, though it begins, after opening prayer, as previously, with a check-in as to where the various members find themselves. We were guided by an agenda that comprised the following sections: Formation (check-in and meeting format); Information (approval of minutes, items that have arisen as a general rector’s report, reports from the deacons and wardens, other reports); Discussion (a single topic each meeting inviting general comment rather than a decision); and Decision (items necessary for decisions, Treasurer’s report, this month the proposed budget to be presented at the Annual Meeting). As always, the meeting ended with a closing prayer, delivered by Deacon Terry.
Highlights of the Meeting
Information highlights included preparation for the Christmas services, announcement of the January 19th singalong “Sound of Music” at 6:00PM, and the possibility of having social work interns helping with our various outreach programs and grant-writing.
All in all, it was a generous, loving, and prayerful meeting: a positive move into St. James’ future with Mother Lisa.
Gust Olson
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