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St. James Episcopal Church - Westwood Weekly Epistle
Approaching the 20th Sunday after Pentecost --- 10 October, 2012
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Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ
Then Job answered: "Today also my complaint is  bitter; his hand is heavy despite my groaning. Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his dwelling! I would lay my case before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would learn what he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me. Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; but he would give heed to me. There an upright person could reason with him, and I should be acquitted forever by my judge. (Job 23: 1-7)
The core question of The Book of Job is: Why do righteous people suffer? Job's wise friends & spouse suggest that Job has sinned. God is consequently punishing him for his lack of righteousness. Job consistently responds throughout the book to them and to the book's readers that he is faultless. He is however not passive in his response. He ponders.... he questions, he rebukes God while pleading for his day in court. Job ultimately sends his friends away by telling them he will never admit that they are correct and that he is wrong. He holds to his integrity despite all their efforts to otherwise persuade him. It's a lonely but familiar ash heap Job sits upon.
Yahweh ultimately restores Job's happiness, wealth, and well-being but not before demanding that Job gain a better understanding of the truth that God is God and humanity is humanity. As Randy Klassen writes: Unless God speaks a word into our world, humankind will remain in relative darkness. God's truth illuminates the chaos of our broken world. Without the anchoring doctrine of divine revelation, the Christian community will not be able to weather, let alone minister to, a post modern world.(Klassen, 1996, p. 34)
On days such as today, I ponder the means and methods by which God is speaking to humanity, especially to righteous persons who are suffering beyond their human limitations. How is God aiding Jocelyn Austin and her three children? On days such as today, I question the sanctity and sanity of religious traditions and beliefs such as those we find in the Book of Job. Maybe, I along with you, need to behave like Job, Jesus, Paul, and other righteous men (and women) who have hung on to their hope and faith despite everything and everyone who suggests otherwise, believing that God will indeed answer us and restore us to unimaginable well-being in this life or the next one.
Blessings Along The Way, Jim+
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 This Week and Upcoming Events @ St. James
Sunday - Oct. 14 - 8 AM - Rite I Eucharist
9 AM - Adult Christian Education
- Choir Practice
10 AM - Rite II Eucharist
- Children's Sunday
11:15 AM - Coffee Hour
11:30 AM - Introductory Episcopal-ese Class
6 PM - Chili + Prayer + Bonfire @ St. Luke's 
Dinner starts at 6:00 pm, with prayer at 7:30 and a bonfire to follow. We anticipate much fun and fellowship. The leaves are in full color and the weather looks like it will be perfect weather for chili and a bonfire. Plus, the young adult intentional community has been working to prepare a creative prayer experience for us. ==================================  Friday - Nov. 2 - Richard Wesp & All Soul's Day Memorial Service, Reception, & 1st Annual Richard Wesp Memorial Concert
All Soul's Day will be especially meaningful and musical this year at St. James. Dick Wesp's memorial service will occur at 4pm on Nov. 2nd. There will then be a reception in Lu Dunn Hall that will precede the 1st Annual Richard Wesp Memorial Concert. We have invited The Cincinnati Children's Choir to perform and celebrate Dick's life and love of music.
The concert begins at 7pm and will feature the Cincinnati Children's Choir, the Cincinnati Collaborative Ringing Project and some of Richard Wesp's closest friends and colleagues. Tickets are $20 and, this year, all proceeds will benefit the Cincinnati Children's Choir, one of Dick's dearest causes.
Tickets are available through the church office. Please make checks out to the Cincinnati Children's Choir & place Richard Wesp Concert in the "memo" line. Contact Jim if you wish to receive one a limited number of complimentary tickets for the concert.
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Have some fun and enjoy photos that Joan McGannon took at last week's Blessing of the Animals.
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St. James Episcopal Church is called to be a center of worship and common life
where Christ's love is visible and experienced
in order to seek and serve Jesus in others.
Take a look around
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