Saint James Values
St. James Episcopal Church Weekly Epistle
August 8, 2013 - Approaching the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks.
 

Read Sunday's scriptures here.

Jules Olitski - Silver Sunrise
"Silver Sunrise" -Read more about Jules Olitski 

There's an apocalyptic bent to some of Jesus' teachings in the New Testament. Such a reading may seem foreign to some of us because we believe that Jesus as Messiah and Christi has not returned and proclaimed final judgment upon the people of his day or ours. An underlying message for this Sunday's Gospel nonetheless remains that God is Coming Again "soon!" We therefore  need to be prepare and be ready for such a potentially cataclysmic and judgmental time. This is a reasonable, historically accurate explanation for living morally Christian lives. The consequences of not doing so are harsh and everlasting. I don't know it's the only interpretation we need to possess though.

Another reading of the text shifts the focus from the final judgment to what's actually going on with us and our faith today. What are the real treasures of our Christian lives and faith? Do our hearts, our truest selves reflect our investment in secular or sacred treasures?  Where and upon what does our faith really reside upon? Is it in the presence and teachings of Jesus the Christ as the Living Word with us or is it upon our own abilities to operate in a manner apart from God while succeeding in the world? Neither or both; What motivates us? Are our achievements primarily connected to our secular abilities to control our success or are we engaged in liberating ourselves from the pursuing some of the common world's quests in exchange for the peace and rewards of God's Reign?
St. Augustine Quote
What do you believe about your treasures?

R. Alan Culpepper, Dean of the James and Carolyn McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University offers some brilliant  insights into the relationship between anxiety and treasure. Culpepper writes: "Faith in Jesus Chrisst awakens our consciousness of the spiritual dimensions of life. By so doing, faith allows and even forces us to see our lives from a new perspective. Then we can see that some of the things we have been so concerned about are not all that important. We may also see that we have not given enough attention to important things: family, friends, a more just and peaceful society, or our own personal, intellectual, and spiritual development. When the rat race of materialism threatens to control you, remember Jesus' words, there more to life." (The New Interpreter's Bible, Vol. IX, 1995, p.261) 

What motivate us to follow Jesus as his disciples probably shapes how we live our lives and what our faith is really about when we wake up in the morning. Fearing what may happen on the Day of Judgment or in the coming weeks may prompt any number of behaviors along with plenty of anxiety. Focusing on what "is" and "what's important" now provides a healthy and holy way for investing in unfailing and heavenly treasure, today, where you and God are right at this moment.

Blessings Along The Way, 

 

Jim+
     
News/Specials
Summer Stuff
Christ's love is available to you through these upcoming summer happenings at St. James?
 
 
Charles Graves IV
Charles is headed back to Yale
Say Thanks and Good Bye This Sunday to Charles 

Charles Graves IV has been a terrific asset and presence among us this summer. His preaching and leadership during Morning Prayer in July was awesome. He's been a lot of help and fun around the church this summer too. Charles will be heading back to Connecticut and Berkeley Divinity School @ Yale University next week. Sunday, Aug. 11th is his last Sunday here @ St. James. Let's say thank you & offer him our best wishes during worship & at a small reception at Coffee Hour. Thanks Charles!

 
 
 
Contemplative Yoga Continues THIS COMING Monday  August 11

Eight or nine folks gathered for our first ASATE Contemplative Yoga last Monday and had a fruitful and enjoyable time. This form of yoga creates a space to become fully present to the voice of God in our lives.
Using gentle stretches, breathing techniques and visualization, we will prepare ourselves for meditation and contemplation. Sessions will be held downstairs, beginning promptly at 6:00 and ending by 7:30 p.m.  All adults of any age and abilities are welcome. Cynthia McCarthy, a certified Kriya Yoga instructor will lead the sessions. Come to clear your mind and listen to for God's voice. Contact Cynthia if you're interested in participating.  

 
The Russians Are Here!
The Miami Valley Episcopal Russian Network (MVERN) is hosting four Russian teenagers from August 8-19. St. James will host a cookout and parish dinner for the guests on next Thursday, August 15, at 6:00 PM. We'll have a chance to meet Dasha, Natasha, Lena, Grisha, and their leader Dr. Igor Tolochin. They are eagerly looking forward to meeting the people of St. James, whom they have heard about from our mission trips with MVERN to their village of Sablino. Don't miss this opportunity to share our culture with our Russian friends and to learn more about their home.
 

Here are some things that need to happen when our Russian guests are here with us on the 15th: 

 

  
1.  Games and Scavenger Hunt.  Pam will organize and leave instructions, so it will just be a matter of leading it that evening.  Please volunteer if you willing to lead or help with the hunt and children's games.

 

2.  Dinner arrangements:  It looks like we're going to have a cookout.  The Russians don't  tolerate spicy food to well;  so, anything along the lines of spicy Mexican food line is out!  Fresh fruit, salads, and yummy desserts would be great. Please check in with Anne Griffiths and let her know what dish you are willing to share?  We need folks to help set-up the food, as well as clean-up.

 

 Keep up with what all is going on on your church's calendar.

 

Did you see the photos from Music Camp yet.  They are awesome 


Taylor Academy School Supplies

Molly Luken Thank you note
Taylor Academy Thank You Note
It's time to once again support the children and faculty of Ethel M. Taylor Academy in the Fairmount Neighborhood not far from us. Lisa Jacob is facilitating our efforts to collect and distribute school supplies to the academy's students.  Thanks Lisa!

We're going to accomplish things a little bit differently this year. First, we're going to ask parishioners to go out and purchase supplies on their own and then bring them to church. You can contact Lisa for some ideas of what needs to be purchased and in what amounts.  You can also donate monies toward the cause that we will use to purchase a gift card from Staples. We will then give the card to the school's resource coordinator. Please bring cash to the office or make out a check to the church and place "Taylor Academy" in the memo line.

We need to collect all supplies and monies by September 1st. We will bless these offerings at the Sunday Morning Eucharist that day. We then will deliver the supplies and gift card to the school later that week. We'll need help delivering and distributing the supplies so please let Gayle or Lisa know if you can help with that aspect of the project. Thanks!
What makes something valuable? 

Marla Olmstead Painting
What matters in making something worth a lot of money?
What makes a painting that was worth millions of dollars one second, worthless in the next? Marla Olmstead's, a child prodigy painter,  pieces of art were extraordinarily valuable until people who loved her art one day didn't want to buy it the next day. Why? The answer isn't that someone violently ruined her canvases.

Or, what makes a seemingly gross piece of chewing gum suddenly worth hundreds of dollars. The answer isn't that someone sprinkled gold nuggets onto the gum. 



 
Paul Bloom's Ted Talk
Paul Bloom discusses what makes a thing or concept, valuable.
The answers to these two questions as well as to why you may value the things and principles that you do are answered in a fascinating Ted Talk. Paul Bloom explores how our responses are conditioned on our beliefs about something or someone. (TED, 2011) You might be surprised and enlightened by what you learn.