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Approaching the Sixth Sunday after The Epiphany - Feb 8th, 2012
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ 

40 A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, 'If you choose, you can make me clean.' 41Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, 'I do choose. Be made clean!' (Mark 1:40-41)

I had the great pleasure of traveling to Procter Farm for a Clergy Day yesterday. Our guest speaker was Walter Brueggemann, a fine Hebrew Bible theologian and contemporary prophet. Dr. Brueggemann juxtaposed (contrasted) two narratives for us to consider as present-day clergy: The Narrative of Empire in comparison to the Narrative of Neighborhood. I essentially came away with the sense of how I/we are caught in a web of decisions when and where we have to decide what and why we are making the choices that we make. Are we striving to serve God or wealth, and why? We should also consider the manner in which decisions are forced upon us by external factors and forces.

http://www.kaiseredu.org/Issue-Modules/US-Health-Care-Costs/Background-Brief.aspx Let's take health care for example, in light of this coming Sunday's gospel. Family premiums for health insurance coverage have increased by 113% in the last decade. (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2011) Improved technologies, pharmaceutical drugs, chronic diseases, longer lifespans, and increased administrative costs all contribute to increased costs. Many employers consequently now restrict or eliminate the quality of health care insurance to their employees. Even worse, they simply lay people off rather than offer them health care benefits. Local and state governments have reduced health care programs for their citizens. Thousands of other people have lost their health insurance coverage and can't afford to pay for it through other means. Such people are consequently one health care crisis away from cataclysmic economic and spiritual perils.   People with pre-existing conditions or chronic illnesses are at even greater risk. 

All of these problems are occurring despite the fact that workers are as productive as ever, work longer hours and despite the fact that health care providers, insurers, manufacturers, and researchers and their "stakeholders" are all profitable. Ultimately, it's safe to assert that those that can afford excellent health care receive it while those families that financially struggle, do not. Here in our neighborhoods, we suffer because of the manner in which our capitalistic, profit (not prophet)-driven health care system operates. Millions of dollars are spent on research yet a small portion of such research actually impacts people (outcasts) who live at or near the poverty line? 

The Gospel narrative is different than the present day capitalistic narrative. Jesus, God incarnate, chooses to heal people, especially penniless lepers. He encourages his followers (us) to love their (our) neighbors, especially the ones we often avoid. Secular and self interests persuade us to reject the Reign of God's love. Each day nonetheless offers decisive moments - moments to be more neighborly and hospitable. Other Rembrandt Etchingmoments come to us when we should gaze toward Jesus with a hopeful faith that God is choosing to heal us and those who live nearby us . The world and our own egos often prompt us to make harmful decisions rather than life-giving choices. We additionally cannot solve the health care problems of our nation by ourselves albeit we assuredly have a say in such matters. We also must believe in the power of Jesus the Christ's healing, despite all signs to the contrary. Let us take the steps that we can, even small ones to choose life over death and move ever closer to Jesus the Christ's loving presence as his believers and disciples.  

Blessings Along The Way, Jim+ 


 

In This Issue
This Week @ St. James
About Us
Lenten Happenings
Open the Eyes of My Heart
St. James of Jerusalem

This Week @ St. James

Saturday - 9 AM - Building and Grounds Work Party (w/ Breakfast) - Come and help us prepare for the month's exciting events. 

4:30 PM - Mardi Gras a la Mer Red Beans and Rice -  Fundraiser Dinner (w/ Dixieland Music) to send Jason Pavolich and Brandon Gray on their field study trip to

Sunday - 8 AM Rite I Eucharist

10 AM Rite II Eucharist 

Annual Meeting
We will hold the parish's annual meeting this coming Sunday. (Feb. 12th). Please attend and elect your vestry members, listen to the Rector's and new Wardens' vision for the future, and directly participate in the parish's life. 

Next Week - Feb. 18th - 4 PM - Our Celebration of New Ministry 
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About Us
We strive to be a Christian community where the love of God is shared, the mystery of grace is experienced and the joy and laughter of the Christian life is taught and lived together. You can read more about where we have been, where we are, and where we are headed here. 
 
Lent Madness
Looking Forward to Lent
Possibilities for your Lenten "disciplines"

Ash Wednesday arrives in just two weeks.  The Season of Lent will then be with us until Holy Week in early April. Here are just a couple of opportunities for you to consider. First, here's a fun way to meander through Lent. Navigate your way over to  "Lent Madness" and learn more about the Saints as well as
help determine which one will win the Golden Halo. 

I'm going to fill out my bracket and I'd gladly entertain motions from the floor as to how we as a congregational members can compete with one another in a friendly and saintly manner. We might even be able to raise some monies for a charity or cause we'd mutually like to sponsor. I'll let you in on a secret.... I'm pulling for St. James  the Apostle in a big way! I need to work with Scott Gunn+ in getting St. James of Jerusalem onto the 2013 bracket. 

There will be another educational opportunity for everyone to participate in. Jim+ will lead a Lenten Program on 24 Hours that Changed the World. 24 Hours that changed the World Rev. Adam Hamilton's DVD series and Video Journey through Holy Week will provide a meaningful learning opportunity to learn more about Jesus the Christ's sacrificial love and what it means for us today. The program will take place on Tuesday night (Feb. 28), beginning with a Lenten Supper @ 5:30
 
Open the Eyes of My Heart Video 
Camp and Campus Ministry Song
 
 
I first heard this hymn at the University of Arizona Campus Christian Center. It was a big hit on youth summer camps too. 
 
Praise music doesn't work for everyone but ancient and contemporary prophets alike invite us to look toward Almighty God during times of crisis, conflict, and concern. Let's open our eyes of our hearts to God's outpouring of power and love.