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St. James - Westwood Weekly Epistle
Approaching the Fifth Sunday after The Epiphany
February 5, 2014
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ
 
"You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5: 13-16)

 

   Read Sunday's Lessons here
   

Blessings Along The Way - Jim+ 
Mezcal Tosba
Jumpstarting an economy - Mezcal style
I was listening to NPR yesterday as I was driving around and thinking about lofty things like: "how can St. James be
come the kind of enlivened Episcopal Church and community that people yearn to belong to?"  What sort of inspiring risks should we be praying about, and taking because of our faith in Jesus Christ?" 

Then I heard this story about two cousins in Mexico. Elisandro Gonzales-Molina and his cousin Edgar have a vision for transforming their lives and the lives of their neighbors in their impoverished village of San Crist�bal Lachirioag in the Oaxaca region of Mexico. They wanted to stop the flood of villagers who were fleeing from the poverty. They yearned to offer joy rather than despair to village neighbors. They desired for their friends to stay home rather than illegally enter into the United States to find a livable wage. They sought meaningful, not meaningless lives.

They thus decided they were going to start a exporting company, selling high quality mezcal to upscale restaurants and liquor stores in the United States. There were just some minor problems. Neither of them had much money, any idea how to start a business, or connections with their potential customers in California. Impossible dream right? You can check out their Facebook page or their website to see how they are doing now.  Amazing!

That's not what touched my heart though. It's great to be profitable ...it's even more valuable to transform people's lives. It's wonderful to earn a living wage. It's even more wonder-full when you've put everything including your whole life at risk to make a huge difference for the neighbors you love as well as for yourself and your family. Westwood isn't San Crist�bal Lachirioag ... and yet ... how much poverty, economic or otherwise is present here? How many people have fled or are fleeing because the neighborhood isn't what it was 10 or 20 years ago. And, what's happening around us to revitalize the community where St. James has been for more than a century? What entrepreneurial, theological, and community action based initiatives are forming even as we pray and ponder what we are doing as Christ's Anglican disciples in 2014 and beyond.

Epiphany altar at St. James
Jumpstarting a neighborhood - St. James style
We aren't striving to start a profitable business here at St. James. We are indeed called to an even higher purpose. Jesus Christ calls us to transform our lives and the lives of people around us - not because it's a nifty idea but because God-inspired love is in limited production these days. Disciples willing to sacrificially put it all out there are in short supply. We've got what it takes to gain international passports to travel to Mexico for those of us who want them. That is probably a good and thing. What isn't getting exporting  to, or imported from Westwood and many, many people in our neighborhood and broader city in NPR-storyesque meaningful ways is the inspirational, heart-moving commodity of life-giving, Holy Spirit rather than Mezcal fueled wealth and transformation.  Saltiness and light are present at our altar - are they equally present in our relationships with Christ, one another, and people in Westwood? These are the sorts of things that make me ponder the questions I do.

Someone that I immensely respect and care for recently asked me "Jim, what do you believe is St. James' purpose?" I told this person that I've been holding off on publicly declaring such a statement because I desired to facilitate a parish-wide conversation about purpose and mission. I didn't want to "lead from above." His response to my somewhat fear-based statement was that the season was past ripe for me to begin leading us on a purposeful pilgrimage.  I interpreted him to say - it's now or never. Villagers are frightened. Spiritual poverty is apparent. God's invitation and opportunities have knocked and are knocking, tastefully, hopefully.

Therefore, I'm going to offer some observations and interpretation about St. James' purpose this Sunday. I'm going to try and shed what I believe is Christ's light in my sermon, and at the annual meeting; snow or no snow.

Blessed Candlemas Candle on St. James' Altar I'm crossing a border with Jesus' Gospel Light into an unknown territory because I believe we've got a call to accomplish more imaginative missions here at St. James.  I'm looking for Christian cousins life Elisandro and Edgar to wander around with me on this journey. I'm asking for some shared sacrifice. I'm not big on Mezcal. I'll drink wine or water and eat whole wheat bread with anyone whose willing to travel over these unknown miles and undetermined outcomes in order to live more wholly. Our product is proclaim in song, sacrament, and service that God is real and God is really here at St. James.  I invite you to please be present at a meaningful starting line this Sunday. Let's see what we and people will say about us 10 years from now as they are prsently talking about Mezcal Tosba on NPR.

Blessings Along The Way, Jim+
 

What is Upcoming at St. James?
Website Epiphany Banner


Friday - Feb. 7 (New Time -  4:30 PM) - Yoga Classes Continue - Vinyasa (flow) yoga with Heather Poast - These classes are a great way to unwind from the stress of the work week. Yoga is also a superb way to regain your breath while gaining energy for your weekend!

Saturday - Feb. 8 (10:00 AM)
- CCM Preparatory Voice and Instrument Lessons - Classes for children and adults have started up again. Chat with Alex about getting yourselves or someone you know signed up!

Sunday - Feb. 9 (8:45 AM) - Adult Education
Chancel Choir rehearsal

Sunday - Feb. 9 (10:00 AM) - Choral Eucharist - Rite II
Children's Sunday School


Annual Meeting Slide
Sunday - Feb 9 (11:30 AM)
Annual Meeting
 
- Please plan on attending this very important parish meeting. Activities include the election of new vestry members, delegates to convention, and budgetary actions for 2014. Jim will offer his ideas regarding St. James' purpose and vision for the coming year. This proposal includes inviting members and guests into an exciting planning process.  An updated copy of the Parish's 2013 Annual Report is located here.
 

This LIttle LIght of Mine placque
Listen to St. Olaf College Choir's lights shine


This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel? Oh no! I'm gonna let it shine

Hide it under a bushel? Oh no! I'm gonna let it shine

Hide it under a bushel? Oh no! I'm gonna let it shine

Let it shine, all the time, let it shine. Oh yeah!


Enjoy St. Olaf College Choir's version of this wonderful hymn