Dear People of St. James’,
Our rhythm at St. James’ is a little different than the typical Episcopal Church because of who we are. Often after Christmas Day, many churches take a nap. This is fair because the rigors of Advent and preparations to celebrate the great feast of the incarnation can wear you out! However, as a multicultural community firmly committed to celebrating our African American heritage and the way that identity, which is so multifaceted in itself, continues to live in our community, there is no time to take a nap. We keep celebrating! Kwanzaa, Watch Night, Epiphany, MLK Weekend – these celebrations point to what God is revealing to us about love and liberation today.
We rolled right up to the Annual Parish Meeting last week, and the energy and momentum, even during this pandemic time, was palpable! And so, I thought to myself, surely this coming weekend, we’ll all take a nap. Surely this coming weekend is what they call in church-speak: “Low Sunday.”
People of St. James’, you are full of surprises! This past weekend was simply beautiful, and I want to describe that beauty for you, because we all only get to see in part what is happening throughout our community.
I am going to list some blessings, but you may have some to add:
-We had an incredible Vestry Retreat with joyful connection time and deep discussions about our aspirations, which will set us up for the next steps in our journey of strategic planning.
– Some of our members were able to accompany The Rev. Lisa Saunders Ahuja (a former rector of St. James’) in her Installation service at St. Thomas’ in Washington, D.C.
-The Sunday Morning Forum took inspiration from Bishop Curry’s book and had a conversation about loving the mysterious other and facing systemic evil together that still has me thinking and praying.
-Newcomers who connected with the Facebook Watch Party were inspired to make themselves known and to seek to connect more with the St. James’ community.
-The Lenten Tea Planning meeting was HIGH energy with so many amazing women coming forward to offer their time and effort to not just continue this tradition, but to ensure that it is reflective of the values of radical hospitality and invitation that are at its very heart.
-It became clear to me that parishioners are reaching out to their fellow parishioners who don’t love computers to assist them in getting signed up electronically for vaccination appointments.
-The 1 pm Spanish-speaking community on Zoom continues to grow and provide a space where families who are separated by geography can worship together.
– The 5:30 Zoom Church group has come some great distance in knowing each other and honoring the mystery of each person through persistence in Bible study and prayer together. It is a space where one can go out on a limb and know that the community is right there for you.
I am writing this on Sunday night, because what I thought would be a Low Sunday, has inspired and energized me, and I cannot help but exclaim, “How good!”
As we move into February, may we continue to seek ways to walk and serve and pray together, because it matters. You matter. You make a difference.
Rev. Eileen
