When Jesus began his public ministry, he preached a very simple message. “The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the good news.” This week, we meet the first disciples Jesus calls to follow him: Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Fr. Ben Williams looks at the significance of what these disciples were doing when they were called. The message Christians are to continue proclaiming must be accompanied by the call to repentance. Otherwise, we are casting broken nets as we seek to obey Jesus’ call to fish for men and women.

How do we hear God speaking to us? This is a crucial question and we find some answers in the Old Testament prophet, Samuel. Just as Samuel needed help identifying God’s voice, so we need others to help us identify the voice of God. This week, Mission Saint James welcomes Dean Horace Tipton as we wrestle with what it means to be active listeners to the voice of God.

Have you ever felt like you were a disappointment to God? This week’s gospel passage is the baptism of Jesus. In this major event in the life of Jesus, the Father declares that Jesus is his beloved Son and in Him, he is well pleased. Join Fr. Ben Williams as he expounds on this important gospel event. Because the Christian is in the Son, we too are well-beloved children of the God of the universe.

Why did Jesus come as a human being? Couldn’t he have redeemed us some other way? The incarnation of the Son of God has many implications for us, but perhaps the most important is that he came to redeem our entire being, not just the invisible parts. On this First Sunday of Christmas, Fr. Ben Williams reminds us that we don’t have to escape our physical existence; even our bodies will be redeemed.

How are we to find joy when there is so much wrong in the world? This is the question Advent asks us every year. The Third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday. It marks the middle of the Advent season and means rejoice. This week, Dcn. Kevin Vailes encourages us to rejoice, even in the space between the first coming of Christ and his return, where sorrow threatens to steal our joy.

The Bible is a story about God’s love for his people. It is a bit of a romantic comedy. Not a comedy because it makes us laugh, but a comedy in the sense that it ends well. Advent is a season of anticipation and waiting. We know that Christ has already come, but we await his return. We wait in hope, knowing that man can be reconciled to God and at peace with his Maker. Join us as we listen in on the beginning of Mark’s gospel when John the Baptist prepares the way for the Lord.

The season of Advent is about waiting. It is about anticipation. Ultimately, Advent is about hope. This week, we begin to observe the season of Advent, which marks the beginning of the Christian year. In the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, the celebration of the incarnation of the Word of God, we move from hope to joy to peace to love. Join us this week for the beginning of this journey as we reflect on Jesus’ teaching about his second Advent.

Who do you serve? We all must ask this question. We either serve ourselves or we serve our Creator. This Sunday marks the end of the Christian Year as we celebrate the kingship of our Lord Jesus Christ. In a world full of rivals to our Lord’s kingship, it can be difficult to discern who we serve. Even our own selves vie for our worship, but only King Jesus promises an easy yoke and a light burden.

What lies in our future? To what work has the Lord called Mission Saint James? As we wrap up our first year of weekly services, Fr. Ben shares our vision for what our future together might look like. As a church that seeks to be a place for the wanderer to dwell, the possibilities are endless. Join us as we take a look ahead, not only to the next year together but much further beyond.

Where did we come from? What is our source? The answer to this question will determine whether we seek our own interests or the interests of others. In this week’s gospel passage, Jesus challenges us not to call anyone teacher, instructor, or even father. Is Jesus concerned with titles we give others or is he telling us something else? Join us as Fr. Ben Williams encourages us to seek our Source over our selves.