St. James‘ Church

We begin a new 4-part Forum series, Journeying the Way of Love, to explore the spiritual practices for a Jesus-centered life. We will await the coming of Christ in Advent by moving through the first two chapters of the Gospel of Luke. Luke’s gospel provides a pattern for understanding how we can live the Way of Love as individuals, as families and friends, as a community, and out in the world. The Rev. Ryan Fleenor leads the session.

John 18:33-37

Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

Research shows that participating in the Eucharist is a key catalyst for spiritual growth for Episcopalians. The more we engage with the Eucharist and seek a deeper understanding of it, the further we move along the continuum of spiritual growth toward a life centered in Christ. We know that the Eucharist has a unique power to shape our spiritual lives, but sometimes it is so familiar that we do it without engaging deeply with what's really going on.

In this episode, the Rev. Brenda Husson (Rector) and Vicki Hall (Director of Children's & Families Ministries) talk about that part of the service toward which we have been building: Communion.

Mark 12:38-44

As Jesus taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

The Rev. Ryan Fleenor concludes our 5-week series on the Eucharist with an exploration of “Why” and “How.” Why, ultimately, do we participate in the Eucharist, and how is God at work in our lives through it?

Since the earliest days of the church, Christians have gathered on Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist. Following Jesus’ command ("Do this in remembrance of me") it is the most basic action of Christian discipleship. Sometimes it is so familiar that we do it without engaging deeply with what's really going on. And yet we know that the Eucharist has a unique power to shape our spiritual lives. Research shows that participating in the Eucharist is a key catalyst for spiritual growth for Episcopalians. The more we engage with the Eucharist and seek a deeper understanding of it, the further we move along the continuum of spiritual growth toward a life centered in Christ.

Mark 12:38-44

As Jesus taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Research shows that participating in the Eucharist is a key catalyst for spiritual growth for Episcopalians. The more we engage with the Eucharist and seek a deeper understanding of it, the further we move along the continuum of spiritual growth toward a life centered in Christ. We know that the Eucharist has a unique power to shape our spiritual lives, but sometimes it is so familiar that we do it without engaging deeply with what's really going on.

In this episode, the Revs. Eva Suarez (Rockwell Fellow) and Ryan Fleenor (Vicar) talk with Davis Wortman (Director of Music & Organist), about the climax of the liturgy at the Great Thanksgiving.

John 11:32-44

When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"

Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, "Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."

The Rev. Eva Suarez continues our 5-week series on the Eucharist with part 4, “Where.” Come explore the idea of sacred space, both in the biblical tradition and in our own lives.

Since the earliest days of the church, Christians have gathered on Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist. Following Jesus’ command ("Do this in remembrance of me") it is the most basic action of Christian discipleship. Sometimes it is so familiar that we do it without engaging deeply with what's really going on. And yet we know that the Eucharist has a unique power to shape our spiritual lives. Research shows that participating in the Eucharist is a key catalyst for spiritual growth for Episcopalians. The more we engage with the Eucharist and seek a deeper understanding of it, the further we move along the continuum of spiritual growth toward a life centered in Christ.

John 11:32-44

When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"

Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, "Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."