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Click here to see some more Advent Resources and learn find out about what's going on around the Diocese of Southern Ohio in December |
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| St. James - Westwood Weekly Epistle |
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Approaching the 2nd Sunday of Advent
| December 5, 2012
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Advent Greetings Everyone
And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. ( Philippians 1: 9-11) Click on Sunday's Lessons to review all of the Advent Two readings. I'm reading a great deal so far in Advent. Here are a few "lessons" that have captured my attention. It is important to nurture constantly the life of the Spirit of Jesus - which is the eternal life - that is already in us. Baptism gave us this life, the Eucharist maintains it, and our many spiritual practices - such as prayer, meditation, spiritual reading, and spiritual guidance - can help us to deepen and solidify it. (Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey, Dec. 4) Life creates more possibilities as it engages with opportunities. There are no "windows of opportunity," narrow opening in the fabric of space-time that soon disappear forever. Possibilities beget more possibilities; they are infinite. (Margaret Wheatley and Myron Kellner-Rogers, A Simpler Way, p. 13) Live today. To be content is to not be seduced into thinking we must always stretch our soul ever broader, ever thinner, to take in ever-new experiences, taste new pleasures, hear new things, master new skills, buy new gadgets to be complete. Rather it's to grow our soul downward, deeper into the ground of our being. Contentment is an active living into the depths life now, today, given all the givens. (Curtis Almquist, Contentment, para. 6) God creatively shows up inside and outside of our church whether we summon God's gifts or not. Christ is present in the sacraments and song whether or not we summon Grace. Our souls seek out connections with The Holy Spirit whether or not our egos demand it. Now in Advent, The Triune God bids us to be alert to what's going on because life, love, and wisdom "are what's happening." Be-coming more attentive, alive, wise, and loving .... well that's something deeper, thicker, richer, and holier for us to contemplate during these days leading up to Christmas. Last Sunday, I suggested that we all travel with one another toward Bethlehem and Jesus'
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manger. I indicated that we had 23 days, at that point, to complete our pilgrimage. How's your journey so far? Each night during Advent (check out this beautiful calendar), Howie and I are spending 10, maybe 15 minutes reading Compline and sharing a spiritual poem or short reading with one another. It's a nice way to check in as well as to practice a somewhat ancient Anglican practice with loved one. If that practice doesn't seem like it will work for you, what will? Consider this, God's Son - the incarnate Word and Baby Jesus - is traveling toward and encountering you every day between now and Christmas Eve. Eagerly seek him, anticipate him w/ creativity and contentment. Intentionally pause to pay attention to what your are experiencing through your intuitive, God-given senses. 19 Days and counting - Blessings Along The Way, Jim+ |
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What's Arriving on St. James' Calendar
Let your members know about the latest news for the ministry. Highlight your mission statement and the goals of the ministry. Thursday - December 6th
11 AM - Episcopal Church Women
Advent II - December 9th
No 8 AM Service
9:00 AM - Adult Bible Study
- Choir Practice
10:00 AM - Rite II Choral Eucharist (Communion)
- Children's Sunday School
11:30 AM (or thereabouts) - Hospitality Time - Christmas Card Blitz - Help us sign and share Christmas Cards for our St. James parishioners who can't attend worship services or participate in holiday celebrations here with us.
5:00 PM - Youth Group Gathering - Help Mr. Whittle set up the train set. Enjoy some home-cooked food. Spend some time downstairs playing games. | |
 Wednesday - December 12th
Take an Hour Out to hear a book about Prayer
Date - Dec. 5th
Time - 8 AM
Enticements - Free Coffee and Pastries -
Learn more about prayer in many various forms. Believe it or not, it doesn't just happen in church pews. It can and often does happen in many other ways; freely, shamelessly, hopefully, and yes, honestly. Brown Taylor wonderfully describes spiritual practices as simple
as going for a walk and offering blessings to people in your life. She dives into darker and more uncertain practices of getting lost, falling ill, feeling pain. Her stories and advice about how prayer occurs while suffering grief or dealing with loss may make you cry and they will also draw you nearer to God and to yourself too. Taylor writes that "The world is full of altars for those willing to welcome the truth that comes to them in the flesh."
 Friday - December 14th - 6 PM
Potluck and Viewing of "The Way"
THE WAY is a powerful and inspirational story about family, friends and the challenges we face while navigating this ever-changing and complicated world. Martin Sheen plays Tom, a doctor who comes to France to deal with the tragic loss of his son Rather than return home, Tom decides to embark on the historical pilgrimage "The Way of St. James" to honor his son's desire to finish the journey. What Tom doesn't plan on is the profound impact this trip will have on him. Through unexpected and oftentimes amusing experiences along "The Way," Tom discovers the difference between "the life we live and the life we choose."
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It's a Celebration!
Get involved and Invite someone to believe in the beauty of Christmas here at St. James |
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December 23rd & 24th are going to be special days for us. These are special opportunities to invite our neighbors, families, and friends to worship and "party" with us.
December 23rd - Lessons and Carols (10 AM)
Holiday Decorating and "Greening of the Church" (11:30 AM)
St. James' Holiday Party (1:00 PM)
December 24th - Family Friendly Christmas Eve Service - St. Luke's Chapel of the Resurrection (4 PM)
Traditional Christmas Eve Service - St. James (10:30 PM)
Talk w/ one of the vestry members on how you want to share your gifts with us and our Christmas guests.
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 Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord?
It's been almost 40 years since Godspell was released Off-Broadway. I may still have the LP in my collection at home. Enjoy Stephan Schwartz's John The Baptist proclaim Jesus the Christ's arrival in this video. |
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 Contacts
Contact Title The Rev. Jim Strader E-mail Jim 513-661-1154 |
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Our Mission
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. |
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