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Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ
Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch, as you really are unleavened.  For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Corinthians 5: 7-8) Our Episcopal Church's Lesser Holy Women, Holy Men book tells us that we celebrate the Saints' lives in order "to expand the worshiping community's awareness of the communion of saints, and to give increased expression to the many and diverse ways in which Christ, through the agency of the Holy Spirit, in the lives of men and women across the ages..."
 | | St. James of Jerusalem |
St. James of Jerusalem (brother of Our Lord) was definitely a man of his own time as well as someone who offers us living examples of piety, righteousness, and mercy.
Hegesippus tells us that James drank no wine, did not anoint himself with oil, nor make use of the bath. My, he certainly wouldn't have made a good modern-day Episcopalian would he? James was notable as well because people often found him kneeling on his knees, begging forgiveness for the people. He was constantly prostrating himself in adoration to God, and begging forgiveness for the people. These acts of intercession and piety are something modern-day Episcopalians probably don't do nearly enough of in our private and public lives.
St. James went on to become the first Bishop of the Church in Jerusalem and he facilitated St. Paul's mission to the Gentiles as well as guided the early Jewish Christian Church in Jerusalem's charitable and mission activities. He seemingly irritated civic and religious leaders because of his professed and public beliefs that Jesus was the Christ. Jewish leaders implored him to rebuke his faith. When he did not, he was thrown from The Temple's pinnacle and stoned to death thereafter. (Hegesippus, n.d.). 'Talk about having a rough day.
We live in a society where Christianity is no longer a marginalized religion as it was in 1st Century Jerusalem. We aren't accosted for our beliefs for a couple of reasons. First, Christianity is tolerable as long as we don't step on other people's toes or values. Second, we as Episcopalians are not known for publicly evangelizing our faith as St. James and modern-day evangelical Christians did and do. This reality makes me wonder about the best and most honorable ways to share our professed faith in Jesus Christ.  How shall we best demonstrate and express our baptismal covenant vows to believe in Jesus Christ as God's only Son,proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ, and strive for justice and peace among all people.
We will celebrate our patron saint's feast day this weekend as modern-day Episcopalians often do. We're going to have a party that will produce monies for our parish to accomplish more outreach activities. Octoberblest on Saturday evening serves as a financial springboard for attracting more people to Jesus Christ even as we enjoy fellowship with one another as our Christian ancestors did thousands of years ago. Please contact Karen soon if you haven't RSVP's for this wonderful feast on Saturday evening. Our Sunday morning worship will recall the influence of St. James upon our common life here in our church. Let's come together in such a way as to give demonstrate the presence of Jesus through the Holy Spirit's agency in our common worship and commitment to become a new batch of sincere, truthful, and visible agents of God's Grace to ourselves, one another, and the persons around us who do not know Christ's love.
Blessings Along The Way,
Jim+
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Benchmarks of Faith
 | | Trinity Church - Asbury Park |
One of the things that I learned when I was a consultant was "don't re-invent the wheel when you don't have to; benchmark. Benchmarking is a business practice but I think it is helpful in terms of being a successful church too.
Let me provide you this first example. Trinity Church - Asbury Park is a thriving Episcopal Church, but it hasn't always been that way. 10 years ago, less than 50 people worshiped and lived out their Christian lives at Trinity Church. Today, more than 200 people worship there each Sunday. They perform numerous ministries and programs to their communities. They prayerfully and energetically made conscientious decision to become fruitful disciples. They took to heart their shared belief that church decline and irrelevance are not inevitable They became outwardly committed to growing in membership and in their depth of spiritual commitment. They consequently expanded the ways they offered their sacred space and truth to more and more people.This video about Trinity Church - Asbury Park is a little dated but it summarized their pilgrimage in Christ with one another as Episcopalians. Take a look.  What can we learn from them about who we are and who Jesus Christ is calling us to be. What benchmark parishes or communities do you know about that you would like to share with us so that we can share more with our neighbors.
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