Saint James Episcopal Church - Weekly Epistle

Approaching the 15th Sunday after Pentecost

September 18th, 2014

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Jesus The Christ

When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.' When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. (Matthew 20: 8-14)

Read Sunday's Lessons (Track 2)

Grace is often incomprehensible. Fair and equal are not synonyms, especially in God's Reign. Jesus' parable about the manner of work in the vineyard offers us a stark explanation for interpreting these truths. What we think about fairness isn't always accurate. Grace isn't something that we can either predict or expect because we presume that we have earned it.

First Century Denarius Bearing: Tiberius Caesar's image

A denarius was the common wage that a landowner offered to a unskilled day laborer in the ancient Roman Empire. Workers expected that they would receive one denarius for a full day's work. The landowner in Jesus' parable seemingly doesn't care about that economic model. His workers earn the same wage whether or not they show up at 6am or 5pm. He also doesn't send somebody out to recruit the workforce. He gets out there himself. Seemingly, he's not concerned about what his workers think about his business model. It also doesn't seem to bother him that it is illogical or unprofitable to pay people the same amount of money for different amounts of work. These are probably just a few of the reasons that Matthew is the only writer who shares this parable.

Read a passionate Palestinian farmer's story about the destruction of olive vineyards in his native lands.

It's typical human behavior to expect more for being good. We want more money in our paychecks if we work overtime. We anticipate getting a raise at the end of the year if we've meet or exceeded our customer's requests. We anticipate getting promoted for being the best worker in our job. God's reign doesn't work that way. The older brother isn't rewarded for his righteousness. The younger and greedy brother instead receives his father's unconditional love. Jesus calls upon his 12 disciples to be servants of one another. They expect that they are going to get to be rulers rather than slaves. The last shall be first and the first shall be last. It isn't fair but it is a core teaching of Jesus' parables.

Lutheran Pastor Sharron R. Blizzard writes: "When I hear the words of Jesus in this Sunday's parable, I am reminded of the problem we have with generosity. We want to control it, to manage it, and to conform it to our vision of what and who is worthy of it. God's generosity doesn't work that way at all. God is lavish with all of creation. Even the last and the least are worthy of God's love and saving grace, of care and concern, and of a place at the bounteous table of blessing." (Blizzard, The Problem with Generosity, Sept. 21, 2014, para. #4)

I'd cut even further into the gritty yet tasty nature of these Christian vines. Living as a Christian disciple means setting aside one's own sense of self worth and personal privilege for the greater wholeness and wellness of outcasts in our communities. There are people looking for safe and nurturing places to work and live. They yearn for places to worship and opportunities to share their God-given talents. Our divine landlord welcomes them to take hold of more important roles in the workplace than ours. God delights in their full membership in The Church. What's our position on these Gospel truths?

Blessings Along The Way, Jim+

News and more from around the church

Homecoming Celebration Sunday

Last Sunday was a wonderful day! We had several newcomers as well as welcomed back some people who hadn't been here in awhile. Thanks to everyone who shared their time, talents to make our homecoming celebration so special and rewarding. Check out Julie Murray's awesome photo gallery.

Last Sunday was superb

Community Supper

We host our next Community Supper on this coming Thursday. (Sept. 25th). It's one of our most important outreach programs and it's alot of fun too.

Sunday School Starts on Sept. 28th

We'll launch our autumn Christian education programs in a couple of Sundays. Adult Bible Study happens at 9:00 am in the vestry room. Children's Sunday School starts at 10:00 am downstairs in the Sunday School area. Remember, the nursery opens at 8:45 am!

Farmstand

This coming Wednesday, Sept. 24th, will mark the closing of St. James' farmstand for the season. It's been a great year and we've learned alot. We've made new and unique connections with our neighbors. We've shared wonderful recipes with many thanks to Kathy Schaeffer, Nancy Goodyear, Jean MacGregor for sharing them. Volunteers have braved windy, rainy, and hot afternoons. It's been slow some afternoons. It's been hectic at times too. We've reached out and welcomed people who we might otherwise have never met.

So, make a special effort to stop by this coming Wednesday and buy some special autumn vegetables and fruit. Say thank you to Kathy and her volunteer crew as well as help us to harvest the goodness of this creative enterprise in our little corner of God's reign.

Visit us for one last time in 2014!

Remembrances - Richard Wesp

Remembering Dick Wesp

Today mark's the 2nd anniversary of Dick Wesp's death. He labored in the vineyard at St. James for more than 60 years. He played the organ and directed the choir with little regard for how much money he was paid. He gave charitably to the church's stewardship campaigns. The vocal and orchestral proclamation of The Church's One Foundation and Christ's Gospel were his primary purposes as a devout Christian.

Since his death, Alex Gartner and St. James' Chancel Choir have honored Dick's legacy beyond measure. The parish's musical programs have touched the lives of many, many people - not just the members who worship here every Sunday but children and adults from around Cincinnati too. Now, as we begin to discern who will next serve as St. James' Director of Music in 2015 and beyond - we pause to thank Dick for his presence here. This is a special moment to once again listen to the composition that Alex and members of the church helped to commission - you can hear it at For The Sake of Sound and Silence. That was a special moment last November!

We look forward to once again hosting and participating in the Richard Wesp Celebration Concert that will happen in early November. We walk and sing by faith as we continue to serve in Christ's vineyard as Dick did for so many years. We hope to reunite with him and the other saints who now reside in God's eternal and blessed Reign when we too shall depart this life at the end of our mortal days.