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From My Prayers IF YOU NEED INSPIRATION: Lately in the Prayers of the People you may have heard us praying for Paul and Cheryl Minor of All Saints, Belmont. They are the Reverends Mr. and Mrs. Paul and Cheryl Minor, the Co-Rectors of All Saints Episcopal Church in Belmont, Massachusetts. We are praying for this couple and their church as we begin to create a Resolution #3 relationship with them and All Saints. Resolution #3 was one of the resolutions passed at our Diocesan Special Convention back in October of last year. That resolution encouraged us to form pastoral relationships with parishes and dioceses, both domestic and foreign, to aid and support them as God forms a new Global Anglicanism. Many are paying a high price to defend and proclaim the orthodox faith, the Good News of Salvation bought for us by the Blood of Jesus Christ. Just as some are dying for their faith in parts of the world, Paul and Cheryl are paying a high price to proclaim Jesus as Savior and Lord. Paul has just been restored to active sacramental ministry after being inhibited for two years by Bishop Shaw of the Diocese of Massachusetts. [Inhibited means he was still a priest but wasn’t allowed to have a job.] The power of the church has always been built on the blood, the hardships of the martyrs. I pray the hardships the Minor’s are enduring may inspire you in your own faith and growth. Acts 7:55,56 IF YOU NEED INFORMATION: On January 24th at Noon we will have a Congregational Meeting to cover two main topics: our budget and Episcopal/Anglican issues. The first topic is our Annual Ministry Budget for 2010. The Vestry will present to you a spartan budget for our mission and ministry for the coming year. Many of you have given faithfully and sacrificially out of love for Jesus Christ. Our Vestry has worked prayerfully, diligently, and faithfully to honor your tithes and offerings that we might be good stewards of our Lord’s money. They have striven and prayed to bring a balanced budget to our ministry. They are close. With your help, we will make it. Please remember, we don’t spend money for buildings and utilities and maintenance and staff for their sake. We spend this money to engage in ministry. The money we spend is for only one reason: to carry out the mission of the Church. Our mission is TO BE AND MAKE DISICPLES. [Disciples share God’s Life, the life of the Trinity. That life is: Up, In, and Out. We do this by: Loving God. Loving People. Building Community.] Everything we have, every person we hire, every dollar we spend is spent first to equip you to be a follower of Jesus, that you might have abundant life in Him. Then those resources are spent to equip you to help others become Jesus-followers. What Jesus offers is unique and life changing. Don’t you believe that? Haven’t you experienced that? Then we have something to offer. Jesus! That is what we use the tool of money for. Offering Jesus Christ brings us to our second topic: Episcopal/Anglican issues. I will not try to give you any information here as the news, the landscape is changing daily. What I will do is ask for your trust and attendance at our Congregational meeting. I ask for your trust that while it may seem that nothing is happening, please trust your leadership when I tell you that there is a great deal happening. There are many plans and strategies being made. We are at work in several areas of parish and diocesan legalities. I ask for your attendance because we need your help, your prayers and your participation as we strive for one goal, to continue to “preach (offer) nothing but Jesus Christ and Him Crucified. 1 Cor. 1:23,24 IF YOU NEED PASTORAL CARE: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete…” James 1:2 Joy in trials? Who is James trying to kid? Trials are trying and joy is good and surely the two can never meet. Can good comes from trials? Let’s read carefully what James is saying. He is not saying to consider trials joy. He is encouraging us to find joy in what trials produce. What do they produce? Trials produce whatever we are missing because we are incomplete. When we stand faithfully in the midst of a trial it produces perseverance. Then perseverance produces what we need to be more like Jesus. Do you need patience? Do you need compassion for others? Do you need hope? Do you need understanding? We can gain these through the suffering that is inevitable, even for Christians. Our suffering can be useless or useful. Jesus didn’t suffer so that you won’t have to. Jesus suffered so that when you face suffering faithfully you will be made like Him, more complete. Amen! James 5:13 IF YOU NEED DIRECTION: Be aware of Avatars. Have you heard that word yet? The word “Avatar” is fast becoming part of the American lexicon. You’ve probably heard of the movie by that name. It is becoming a cultural phenomenon like American Graffiti and Star Wars. I don’t encourage you to see the movie, but I imagine you will. If you do I pray you will educate yourself a bit before you go. For some education on the theology of the movie Avatar go read my blog at www.donkeyrider.com. In addition to this, let me give you a bit of a sense of what the word avatar means as it has been introduced to the American public. Most of us first used the word in the Wii video games. Many of you play Wi: when you do you have to create or become a character. This character is called your “avatar.” You can even design your Wii avatar to look like you. This gets us a bit closer to the original sense of the word. The word “avatar” was first used by the Greeks to describe people and things that the gods would inhabit. Circa the first century everyone had an avatar. Everyone had a place or a person, or a thing that was their avatar, their connection with the gods. [That is, everyone but the Hebrew people. They had this one, true and transcendent God they chose to call Yahweh.] Do you have an avatar? Yes, a more churchy word might be “idol.” Do you have someone or something that you have made your avatar? Probably so. We all tend to do it. My simple direction for you is to beware and be aware of avatars. You will recognize avatars because they always bring frustration. Frustration with your spouse: avatar. Frustration with your job: avatar. Frustration with yourself: avatar (our most prevalent avatar). When you recognize that you have one, admit it, repent, ask for forgiveness, and ask the One True God to restore you to Him and the life He wants you to have. Romans 1:21-23  Arthur Luke 2:30 HOPE BRINGS ENCOURAGEMENT December 2009 Advent and Christmas are seasons that remind us of God’s hope for us and in us. God’s Promise fulfilled in the Savior born and the King who will return is our source of hope. Your church staff’s prayer for you and your family is that you would experience the joy and power of Hope. “We do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men who have no hope.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13 “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…” Joel 2:25 “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,” 1 Peter 1:3-4 “Therefore encourage each other with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:18 If there is one characteristic that marks a person as a follower of Jesus Christ over all others it is that the Christ-follower has hope. In fact, we who are disciples of Jesus have hope that is unique and available solely to us. No other person, group or religion may have it. As the apostle Paul said to the Christians in new church in Thessalonica, “we don’t want you to grieve like the rest of men who have NO HOPE.” As followers of Jesus we have hope that is unlike hope available to any other person, group, or religion. Now before you begin to think of hope as wishful thinking, let me remind you that our hope is not in ourselves, it is not in our abilities, our hope is found in God and the fulfillment of His promises in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 1:20) And, before you begin to think that our hope is pie in the sky, meaning our hope is just a hope to get to heaven and no earthly good for you now, read on. As followers of Jesus we have hope for our past, hope for our present and hope for our future HOPE FOR THE PAST Do you have wasted years in your life? A time or season that maybe you regret or are ashamed of? I have a good friend that has often told me of his “dark years.” These were years during which he was so depressed that he hardly has any memory of them. Too often I heard his regrets and his sadness that continued to hold him hostage, even now. Then one day, the Word of the Lord (Scripture) came alive to him and he heard the promise of God through the prophet Joel, “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…” My friend’s sadness was removed and replaced with HOPE. Now he has hope in God’s promise that God would restore the time, the life lost in those years. He has hope for the restoration of his past and that became a great encouragement for him. HOPE FOR THE PRESENT All too often I hear people, both church-goers and people who don’t go to church, tell me that Christianity is fine and everyone wants to go to heaven, but they need help and hope NOW! You know what? I understand. That is exactly why I follow Jesus, because I need help and hope now. I need help with my temper. I need help with my thoughts. I need help with my direction. I need help with my patience. I need help with…. Oh, you get the picture. I need help with everything. That’s why I’m a Christ-follower. It is because I know He has promised to inhabit my life, to live in me as I allow Him. When the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi he took comfort in his confidence “that he (God) who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Paul’s comfort came from his own experience and confidence that God was working daily and diligently in their lives. Our hope is not only in the promise of heaven; it is also in God’s promise that He is active through grace and redemption daily in our lives. God is giving us blessings and direction and protection and healing and redemption that we don’t even see or acknowledge. In this “very present help” we can be confident and it IS our hope and our encouragement. HOPE FOR THE FUTURE It is a disciples’ confidence in their future that molds our life now. Again, a Christ-follower has a different future than is available to anyone else. That future, that promise, that hope is not just in going to heaven. It is the perfection of God’s creation as seen in the City of God in Revelation, chapter 21. Because our future molds our present, we are not afraid of a day of death or the little deaths and hurts we experience now. What is our hope? What is our future? “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,” Our future, our hope, our encouragement cannot be defiled, it cannot perish, it cannot fade because it is kept safe for us and it is not kept by us. God keeps it. Our hope for the future is our encouragement now. “Therefore encourage each other with these words.” Arthur Romans 15:13 THE NEW OLD WAY October 2009 Father, visit these words with your Holy Spirit that they might be an invitation to us all to meet and know our savior Jesus. Amen This proverb, while not a Biblical quote, certainly has its roots in scripture, most specifically Matthew 13:13 and Jeremiah 5:21, "Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not." (KJV) But what does it mean? The proverb tells us that the most deluded people are those who choose to ignore what they already know. We live in a time in history when Christianity is growing faster and stronger than it has at anytime in its two-thousand year history – just not in our country. We live in a time when our understanding of our relationship with God through Jesus Christ is more possible than ever – but not in America. We live in a time when the Kingdom of God is closer to fulfilling its heavenly mandate to bring God’s will here as it is in heaven – but not in our society. For two days I have been racking my brain and hurting my knees trying to find some way to get you to SEE. What do I want you to see? I want you to see that the greatest evidence of our need of a New Old Way (read revelation) of the Church is what is happening in our denomination and our society. (I won’t take up space explaining. Draw your own illustrations.) Our situation may be described in this way: We see the church as a place to go to. God sees the Church as the people who go. We see the church as a place where we drop our children off to teach them about God. God sees the Church as the parents sharing their faith with their children. We see the church as place where the clergy ministers to us. God sees the Church as the people who minister to the world. We see the church as God’s Plan A for the help of the world. God sees the Church as Plan B with the Family as Plan A. We see the church as the center for Christian Education. God sees the Church as the Family who shares the faith with our children. We see the church as the place where we go to do mission. God sees the Church as the place where the mission leaves to go. We see the church as a place for programs. God sees the Church as a place for conversation. We see the church as the place where we go to pray. God sees the Church as the place where we pray to go. We see the church as the focus of the Christian mission. God sees His Kingdom as the focus of the Christian mission. We see the church as the place where “we” are the point. God sees the Church as the place the place where “they” are the point. We see the church as the place where we go to have our needs met. God sees the Church as the place where we go prepare to meet the needs of others. We see the church as the destination. God see the Kingdom as the destination. Louise, Mary Ellen, Brent and myself with your Vestry’s direction are working harder than ever to create the infrastructure and provide the resources to completely alter the view we have of church, Christian education, missions, worship family, singles, faithfulness, all of it. We must have a new understanding of church. We must find the New Old Way if you will. As it has happened many times before, the culture, our culture has overrun the church and its mission. The church, the Bride of Christ has ceased to be what God made it to be. We must see this New Old Way. So, I’m back racking my brain and hurting my knees to figure out a way to get you to see, to get you to wake up to get you to care. And then it comes to me. The only way to get you to see, to get you to wake up, to get you to care is to invite you to meet Jesus Christ. Yes, Jesus Christ. Jesus the man. Jesus the Savior. Jesus the Lord of all. Jesus your Deliverer. Jesus who gave himself on your behalf. Oh, I know, you think you have met Him. Isn’t that what your thinking? Yet your priorities show it isn’t true. You care more about your success than about your children’s faith. You care more about their soccer game than their eternity. You care more about the buildings of Saint James than about the Kingdom ministry we are offered. You care more about avoiding the discomfort of admitting that we’ve all made grave mistakes as parents and as disciples than facing the discomfort and finding a new start in Christ Jesus. This isn’t just your fault. You’ve been misled. You have been invited to meet the church. You’ve been invited to meet sermons and bulletins and hymns and praise songs and Sunday school and Christian Education and programs and fundraisers. You’ve even been invited to meet the Bible. But you haven’t been invited to meet, led to meet Jesus, the man, the Savior, the Lord, YOUR Savior, YOUR Lord. “You must be born again.” Jesus said this to Nicodemus, a man who cared more about how things looked than how they were. We must begin to take the New Old Way. We see the church as the means of salvation. God sees the Church as the response to Salvation. What are you to do? “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” Mark 1:15b. Prayer this prayer: “Jesus, forgive me for my sin, my complacency, my ignorance. I repent of my way. I want to know Your Way. Lead me and I will follow. Amen. Now, let’s get ready for the New Old Way. Arthur Matthew 13:11-13 Revival and Renaissance April 2009 There is a revival happening in the Body of Christ and the church in this era. The revival is being driven as has been every revival that has ever come, by the Spirit of God. It is God breathing the breath of life into his people and into the church, just as He did with the clay that became Adam and Eve. He is breathing new life into us because God loves people. He intentionally loves bad people, people who disagree with him, even His enemies. God cares about people and he is calling His church, that’s us, to once again reconsider how we are representing Him to the world. This revival, as every revival, begins like the restoration of any relationship. It begins with humility, admission of wrong, apologies, forgiveness, healing, and then NEW LIFE. God has begun this revival by shining the Light of the Holy Spirit on the failures and omissions of the church. That light is revealing that we (that “we” is not just us at Saint James, but the whole of Christendom), the church have become too much like a club for people who are like us. It is revealing that we have lost the Biblical understanding of manhood and womanhood and thereby, marriage and the family. The light of the Holy Spirit is revealing that we have focused too much on program offerings and forgotten to make disciples of Jesus Christ. And that light is revealing that we have cared for the church more than for the community in which we live. As we humble ourselves before these failures with humility and admission, God will restore us, revive us, and even thrill us. There is a revival happening and I pray we may have the eyes to see and the ears to hear. One of the cutting edge accounts of this revival is the book The Missional Renaissance, by Reggie McNeal of Columbia, South Carolina. In his book, McNeal compares this current revival with the Renaissance of the Middle Ages. He begins with these words. The Missional Renaissance “The missional renaissance is under way. Signs of it are everywhere. Churches are doing some “unchurchy ” things. A church in East Texas decides that its next ministry chapter should be about building a better community, not building a better church. “ No child will go hungry in this county, ” the pastor declares in his “ vision ” message, a time usually reserved for launching new church initiatives. A church in Ohio passes up the option to purchase a prime piece of real estate that would allow it to build a facility to house its multi-site congregation. Instead, it votes not to spend $ 50 million on church facilities but to invest the money in community projects. A congregation located in a town housing a major correctional facility has taken on the challenge of placing every released inmate in some kind of mentorship and sponsorship upon leaving prison. These efforts are resulting not just in cooperation from the prison but in a drop in recidivism rates as well. Another group of churches is collaborating on bringing drinkable water to villages in the developing and undeveloped nations of the world.” The Missional Renaissance, McNeal, page 1 MAKING A DIFFERENCE If humility is the beginning of any revival and restoration, then the good news is that we have been humbled. God humbled us in the Fall of 2007. We were humbled again in the early summer of 2008. Both of these times we were confronted with hurt, financial difficulty and sacrifices. It was hard. It was also redemptive. Those humbling moments gave us prophetic preparation for the humbling that all of the U.S. and the world is facing now. We were already getting prepared. This humbling also caused Louise and myself, the Vestry and staff and the more of the leadership of Saint James to fall on our knees and seek God’s redemption and direction. In that, our eyes were opened to all of this move of God. Because of that we have already laid the foundation to participate in God’s revival and direction for the church. You may recognize this in the growth of our foreign missions? You may recognize this in the reorganization of our structure around the Simple Church paradigm? You may recognize this in the simplification and clarification of our Mission which is: To Make Disciples. And the same with our church Vision which is: Loving God through worship. Loving People through meaningful relationships. Building Community through making a difference. That all this may be more than just words, our focus and ministry following Easter will be Making A Difference on James Island. You will hear more about this with the In As Much service day we will have on May 16th where we will join with other churches on James Island to offer sacrifice and service to people in some of the neighborhoods of our island. You will hear more about this as we preach and teach and illustrate the vision and purpose for our church. And you will hear more about this at our Annual Meeting on May 17th. Won’t you listen up and join in. Our Lord by the Holy Spirit is doing a wonderful thing and thankfully, He has included us. Arthur Matthew 25:40
March 2009 I can’t imagine there is any Christian parent or grandparent who would not care about passing their faith, THE faith on to their children and grandchildren. At the same time we are failing at it. Last month I shared with you some statistics that I will repeat here. Americans who claim to be Christians and can articulate the Gospel message. Born before 1946 65% Born between 1946 & 1964 35% Born between 1965 & 1976 15% Born between 1976 & 1994 4% I’m sure you’ll admit this is shocking and yet the society in which we live shows us the proof, doesn’t it? Our failure at giving our children their Gospel inheritance begs two questions. First, why are we failing? Second, what is the Gospel we are attempting to share with our children? The answers to these two questions are interrelated. WHY ARE WE FAILING? In the Epistle last month I explained the basic reason that we are failing at passing our faith on to our children. We failed because the Church has interjected itself between the parents, the family, and the children. This is similar to the way the medical insurance companies have interjected themselves between you and your doctor. The church offered Sunday School and Youth Pastors and the implied message to drop your children off with us and we’ll teach them about Jesus. This was not a malicious offer but it had malicious results. Again the results are the proof. WHAT IS THE GOSPEL WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO SHARE WITH OUR CHILDREN? At the end of the Book of Joshua in Scripture we read of Joshua’s final words to Israel before his death. This was Joshua who led Israel out of the 40 years of desert and across the Jordan to take possession of the Promised Land. His words are well known to us. “Choose this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Then following Joshua’s death at the very end of the Book of Joshua we read this: “Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work that the Lord did for Israel.” This verse leaves us with two implications that are important for us. First it tells us that it takes a personal experience of the power of God to keep one faithful. As Joshua and the elders faithfully and bravely took possession of the Promised Land they needed and experienced God’s provision, protection, and power. This personal experience kept them encouraged and steadfast in their relationship and service to God. We are no different. Without a personal experience of the power of God, the provision of God, the protection of God, our faith, service, and life becomes cerebral and ultimately non-existent. Secondly it implies to us that they failed at passing on their faith to their children. In Judges 2:10 we read this is true. “And all that generation were gathered to their fathers. And there rose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that He had done for Israel." What is the Gospel we are attempting to share with our children? It must be the Good News of a Heavenly Father who is loving, powerful, and acting in their life. To use my favorite food metaphor: Wouldn’t it impress you more to taste that perfect barbecue than to just hear about it? Psalm 38 tells us exactly that: ”Taste and see that the Lord is good.” In order to give our children the Gospel inheritance we all want them to have we must first encourage and equip parents and grandparents to share their faith with their children. We must also give them a Gospel that is filled with the personal experience of power and work of God. That means that we must share with our children more than the fine Bible stories of God’s faithfulness and power. We must also share with them our own personal stories, testimonies of God’s power and work in our lives. Then we must also have a family and a church that provides our children the opportunity to experience their own moments of God’s power and work. May we all share in this during Lent. Arthur Malachi 4:6 & Luke 1:17 WHY WOULD YOU READ THIS? February 2009 The Bible teaches that God has two institutions – the HOME and the CHURCH. Nothing should be more important to a Christian than these two places, for they are ordained of God. The Home and the Church are complementary. The strongest home is one that is built around a church, and the strongest church is one that is built around the family. Most of the research coming to us points to a serious problem that churches must face. The consensus is that the majority of church-raised kids are abandoning the faith in which they were raised. Something's not right. Can we stay on the course we are currently on? Many churches are changing courses. They have decided to leave the path of ministry that isn't producing lasting fruit. Since parents are the primary disciplers of their children (Deuteronomy 6:5-9), the church must develop true partnerships with parents to exhort them, equip them, and encourage them to accept this God-given privilege. I continue to be convinced and convicted that we, the Church, have taken on the wrong role with our families. We have organized ourselves to teach children instead of teaching families to teach children. By doing so we have infringed on God’s plan and institution, the Family. Beginning sometime in the last century, the church began offering to teach our children and ultimately displaced parents in their God-given role. Parents were growing ever busier and the church became the specialist in educating about the Faith and Jesus Christ. It seemed to be a perfect fit. Just as any good parents might take their child to the piano teacher for music lessons, so too they were encouraged to bring their children to church for their Christian education. The problem was that this displaced God’s plan and institution of the Family as the place for Christian faith formation. God has ordained that no one has more authority and impact over a child’s heart than their father and mother. We replaced parents with Sunday School Teachers and Youth Group leaders and Vacation Bible School and car washes and pizza parties. Far be it from me to demean the love and care offered by many Sunday school teachers, especially remembering some of the ones that had a profound impact on my life and my faith. Nevertheless, the facts and statistics reveal that we are not capturing the hearts and lives of our youth for a life-long saving relationship with Jesus Christ and the faith. We are losing them in high school and college and they aren’t coming back. What are we to do? The solution is both frightening and exciting. We must change. We must reorganize the institution of the Church in order to recapture the institution of the Family. We must do something differently than we’ve been doing. We must restore the family as one of the two institutions that are God-ordained to nurture and nourish us in our life of faith. Now please hear me. I AM NOT advocating doing away with Sunday school and firing Sunday school teachers. I am not advocating doing away with our Youth Groups and our new, really fine Youth Pastor. (Please reread those last two sentences.) I am advocating that we, Louise, Mary Ellen, Brent, and I do our best to make you aware of this situation. Then we are going to continue to put into place opportunities to equip parents and grandparents to take their rightful place in their children’s “nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord.” (Book of Common Prayer, pg. 423) Why? Because we are losing our children at an alarming rate. Here are some of the statistics. Americans who claim to be Christians Born before 1946 65% Born between 1946 & 1964 35% Born between 1965 & 1976 15% Born between 1976 & 1994 4% We must reverse this trend. At the end of February we will begin the Forty-Day season of Lent. This year we will focus our attention and Lenten offerings on restoring God’s institution, the Family, YOUR Family. We are now collecting resource material to aid, encourage, and equip you to reconnect with your family and your children. It may be messy, but if by God’s grace we may begin, it will be a blessing for you and your children, young or old. Why would you read this? Because the faith life of your children depend on it. Arthur Malachi 4:6 & Luke 1:17 SUCH A GREAT SALVATION January 2009 Happy New Year I will spare you my normal lecture about New Year’s resolutions. I’m just not a fan of them. I am a fan and supporter of personal change and transformation. I just know that it doesn’t come by human decision, but by the power of submitting and yielding to the Holy Spirit. Now there is the foundation of change. Come Holy Spirit. Come. Prayer Covering I hope you have heard how Louise and I are taking our pastoral prayer covering of each of you more seriously than ever before. We recognize that God has given us the gift of being your pastors and your spiritual covering and that we are responsible before our Lord for you. That is why we have begun afresh to pray for each of you by name on a spirit-led basis. That is why you hear our new benediction at the end of worship as we “bind unto each of you the strong name of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Such A Great Salvation In the midst of the crush of Christmas were you ever touched with the magnitude of the gift of the Incarnation of God’s only begotten Son? I pray so. During the crush of the social, emotional, financial and physical demands of this season did you recognize afresh our need of this Savior, this Salvation, this Redeemer? We need to be reminded, don’t we? The author of the Letter to the Hebrews believed we needed to be reminded. This was his reminder. “… how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” Hebrews 2:3,4 We are experiencing God’s testimony of this great salvation. There have been many signs and wonders and miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit. We have miracles of healing of bodies and restoration of relationships. We have had “divine appointments.” These have come not for our glory, but because of His Glory. Our Lord is sharing His testimony with us because He believes we are willing to carry it out to our community. May that be true. Simple Life, Church and Faith Continues If the crush of the end of the year holidays and business didn’t convince you that we need a lifestyle change that grows from a faith change, I don’t know what will? Simple Church is not about less church. It is about more useful, efficient, and user-friendly church. Simple Church is good stewardship. It is an organizational means to invite all who come to Saint James to take a further step of commitment to our Lord and the ministry He has shared with us. There will be more from the Vestry soon. Remember, we gather, worship, give, serve, and rejoice at Saint James because God has offered us the treasure that will make a difference in people’s lives. That is why we: Love God. Love People. Build Community. By God’s grace we will make a difference. Brent Cooley, Youth Pastor On Christmas Eve Saint James received a fine Christmas gift. The gift was that Brent Cooley accepted the position as our fulltime Youth Pastor. Now before you think that was a given, let me tell you that Brent had another call offered to him from Trinity Church, Myrtle Beach. Also, I can tell you that we weren’t able to offer more salary or a better ministry with which to be associated. Thankfully, God called Brent to this ministry and to be a pastor and mentor to our children and we adults. Brent listened for God’s heart specifically for him and his ministry and in that we will be blessed. Welcome Brent. We are blessed by God call, heart, and passion that will flow through you for our families and children. Joy! His Grace and Mercy Ministries Beginning in the month of January Saint James will become the host of another church, His Grace and Mercy Ministries. The Vestry has overwhelmingly approved the request of Pastor Joseph Barbour the use of the Ministry Center Chapel to hold Christian worship and services. Pastor Barbour states in his letter: “We are a newly planted church which do not have a large membership for now, but we are trusting and believing in God for an increase. If you decide to let us use your facilities and entrust us with it, we will truly be good stewards of your and God’s church and all the property there with.” Amen Pastor Barbour. We welcome you and your new congregation. To allow His Grace and Mercy Ministries to use our facilities is to join them as good stewards of what God has entrusted to us. May we all be good stewards and ministers to build His Kingdom and not our own. Hebrews 13:2 Never Too Late I don’t plead with you much, but here is a plea. At the end of this month, January 23rd and 24th we are hosts of the Never Too Late parenting conference led by Dr. Rob Reinow. My plea is that you take ownership of this conference. First, come help that we might be good and faithful hosts. Second, come that you may be blessed by a Godly man with a message that is sorely needed by every parent no matter the age of your child. Lastly, come that it may speak well of Saint James by your attendance. I have been saddened of late when I see such poor participation and support of parish events. I’m not talking about worship or even Bible studies or even events like this conference. I am speaking about parish moments like funerals. I grew up in a time when if someone was being buried from my church one attended to bless and support the family, whether one knew them or not. I realize times have changed and you are busy. So? Actually that busyness is a priority question, not a time question. (See again Simple Life above) Again may I plead? Prayerfully, check your priorities. Check the priorities of your schedule, your checkbook, your spouse, your children, yes, your life. I have been at the bedside of many people who have gone to meet Jesus. As they took stock of their lives in their last days I have never heard anyone say, “I wish I had spent more time at the office.” Don’t forget it’s Never Too Late. TBTG! Arthur I Timothy 4:14 IS EVERYTHING GOING TO BE SHAKEN UP? October 2008 “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28 ESV There has never been a time when the clarity of the Scriptures is more needed than now. There has never been a time when the power of God working in and through the Body of Christ is more needed. There has never been a time when the call on the local church will be greater than will come from the people whose lives are being shaken. There has never been a time when the victory of the Cross and the authority of the Kingdom need to be more clearly proclaimed. In the midst of the confusion and fear concerning our economy and world events, we as Christians need more than ever to draw on the promises, principles and authority of the Kingdom of God and on the clarity of direction found in God’s Word. At the time I am writing this the 700 billion dollar rescue of our national economy is still being debated by Congress. No matter how financially secure or not we may feel individually, we must recognize that as a nation we have been on a precipice. Our nation, our lives, our bank accounts are being shaken. The question we must ask and answer as a people of faith is: Who is doing the shaking? Is it only the greed of Wall Street? Or, is it also the redemptive hand of God? Can the shaking bring something good? The author of the Letter to the Hebrews was writing to encourage the lives and faithfulness of Messianic Jews (those are Jews who have accepted Jesus as the Christ). In doing so he referred to God’s promise through Haggai in chapter 2, verses 6-9. (Go read it) Haggai’s prophecy is proclaiming the shake-up that is to come when Jesus Christ enters the world. It did shake things up, didn’t it? Just ask the Pharisees, the Chief Priests and Rome. The author of Hebrews is referencing this to encourage those Jews who are following Jesus that the “shaking” they are experiencing is the ongoing earthquake between the kingdom of the world and the Kingdom of God. Hebrews points out to us that while everything around us seems to be unstable, we have something that cannot be shaken – the restoration and the power and authority granted in Jesus Christ. For that we are to be grateful. How does that translate for you and for today? First, it begs the question: What in your life needs to be shaken and removed? This is not just a question of sin or attitude. It is also a question of physical and practical matters. Does your budget need prayer? Does your calendar need a few “no’s?” Do your priorities need to be submitted to God’s intention for manhood and womanhood and not established by trying to please whomever? Are you working for favor or from favor? Secondly, will God’s promise of His provision that cannot be shaken deliver you from worry and anxiety? Have you ever experienced provision from God on which you may place your trust? Has He met a past need of yours? Has He given you a miracle or delivered you from some hurt or fear? Do you have a moment with God that you may call upon to remind you that He is here, now, and working for the good? Can you be grateful? “Therefore let us be grateful...” Will you respond with gratitude or attitude? Can you choose to be thankful for the things in your life on which you may depend? Is there a spouse or a child or a brother-or sister-in-Christ with whom you may share this? Will the Body of Christ share with you? Is there anything unshakeable in your life? If you don’t see anything, start with the goodness of God because it is on that you can depend. It is unshakeable. Therefore, can gratitude keep you focused on what God is doing and protect you from obsessing about what you may assume God is not doing? “thus let us offer to God acceptable worship…” Will you respond with worship or blame? Will we take God’s Word to heart? "My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:19 We have a Kingdom, a gift from God that is a place of Shalom and Sabbath. It is unshakeable. On that we can depend. Let us rejoice. Arthur John 7:38 A MUST READ BOOK A MUST READ BOOK We Speak Bible “For the life you were born to live…” Shortly after the novel Gone With The Wind had been published, a young woman sat beside a history professor at a dinner. Trying to make conversation, she asked him if he had read it. "No," the professor answered. The woman admonished, "You'd better hurry up. It's been out 6 weeks." Then the professor inquired, "Have you read Dante's Divine Comedy?" "No," the woman said. The professor responded, "You'd better hurry up. It's been out 600 years." New books dealing with all sorts of subjects pour from printing presses in an overwhelming cascade. Even if we did nothing but read, we couldn't keep up with the output. These days, we not only have to deal with a flood of books, but the overwhelming produce of the electronic media culture in which we live. We are inundated with television, You-Tube, e-mail, text messages, DVDs, movies, and more and more and more. There is so much competition for your attention. So we must discriminate and decide what we'll read or watch and what we'll ignore. But there's one ancient book we must not ignore, the Bible, God's inspired Word. For many centuries, it circulated in scrolls and handwritten manuscripts. Since Johannes Gutenberg devised the printing press, Scripture has been reproduced in countless forms and editions. Important as many books are, only the Bible reveals the good news about Jesus (Acts 8:35). Only the Bible teaches us how to please Him. Let's make sure we give the Bible the priority it deserves. It's a "must read” book. In Acts, chapter 8, the Ethiopian Eunuch also found the Scriptures a “must read” book. But he also found the frustration that many of us have. When Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The Ethiopian gave the answer for many of us. "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. One of the hardest lessons I had to learn as a young man was to let go of my pride and admit when I needed help. The Bible will always confront us in that way. The Holy Scriptures is not just a book or even a library (a biblios) of books. It is God’s revealed Word. While God, the Father, by the Holy Spirit will speak powerfully to us individually through the Bible; there is also a level of revelation, a message that is only transmitted through sharing the Word with another. This means we all need to follow the Ethiopians example, “how can I understand unless someone explains it to me.” God’s Word in the Bible is made to come alive in the context of Community. The Bible takes on a new dimension when it is shared. Every Wednesday morning the group that gathers for the Rector’s Bible study experience this. It isn’t through the quality of my teaching or even study. It is by the power of God’s Holy Spirit working through those of us gathered around the table that something new and fresh, and life changing always comes out. As my brother-in-Christ, the Rev’d Carl Green would say, “Wow.” This year we are inviting you to find a new relationship, a new experience of your Heavenly Father as, together, we read the Bible. We are offering at least four different ways to read the Bible. I won’t repeat them here, but make it your business to find the brochure that explains them or join us on Wednesday nights. We promise to help you understand what you read and you may help someone else understand also. The Bible – it is a must read book. You won’t believe what you find there. Or, maybe you will. Many books can inform, but only the Bible can transform. Arthur Isaiah 40:8 From My Prayers Many years ago, when I was in a very dark and hard place in my life, I got down on my knees and prayed what I have since described as a "prayer of little faith." I prayed, "Lord IF you are really there and will come and save me, I will follow you wherever you will lead." Since that prayer, our Lord has led me through some very wonderful, transforming, and, of course, humbling moments. One of the aspects of my Lord’s call on my life has always been to "live the Gospel out in public." That doesn’t mean to be like the "ones who sound a trumpet when they are about to pray" and to point to myself. What it has always meant to me is that my Lord has asked me to be publicly honest about my need of the Gospel, which is the saving, forgiving, reconciling, redeeming Grace offered in Jesus Christ. Well, here I am again, in need of the Gospel. During the last two weeks we have all been struggling with the shock of the reorganization of our staff and my asking Robert and Frances to seek other ministry positions. This decision has been necessitated partly by our parish needs and partly due to financial needs. I am sure that most have recognized by now that, financially, something had to be done. That really is not the issue and it is not the source of hurt and anger. The source of your hurt and anger is that while making these necessary decisions I did it poorly and hurt people we all love. In that I can only express my need of the Gospel, my need of God’s grace and forgiveness and your forgiveness. Before the Cross, I confess that instead of faithfully and honestly facing the situation and the need, I ran and I denied it. I also confess that when our financial situation called the question I didn’t face it faithfully, I reacted. I confess that because of all this I have hurt Robert and his family and I have hurt you, our parish family. For that I am deeply sorry and I ask for God’s forgiveness and for yours. I know that the grace of God’s forgiveness is swift, but I also know that it often takes more time for us. In that I can only pray that, as you are faithful, that you will give me the grace of your forgiveness. One of the things I've had to learn in all of this is my need to communicate and listen better on every level. Just one of the many parts of that was my not preparing the Vestry better for the decisions facing us and getting their input sooner. I understand that I presented this reorganization as a 'fait accompli.' While that was not my intention, it was the reality. I understand now that the Parish and Robert and all involved would have been better served if I had asked us all to work together to make a plan. While I cannot undo what has been done. I can ask for forgiveness for that. And, I do and I will. Also the Vestry can NOW make a plan with Robert, the Bishop and the parish to aid Robert in his ministry transition. To that end I am asking for advice from the Bishop and others as to how to proceed. I also invite your advice and prayers. I remain committed to earning your trust again. I remain committed to taking seriously what God would have me learn in all of this. I remain committed to our Lord’s call on my life and to you. With all that, I now stand before Christ and the Cross. FAITH ALIVE By now I pray you have heard that our Faith Alive weekend has been postponed. Obviously, the reason for this is the turmoil many feel right now. Also, we wanted to be good stewards of the time and ministry of the 40+ witnesses who were committed to come and minister to us, therefore, we couldn’t ask them to give of their time if many couldn’t participate. I hope you will join me as we pray that we may reschedule our Faith Alive weekend when it is God’s timing. May He make us ready?! I remain, Ever dependent on Grace, Luke 2:30 WE ARE BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING Blessing Began It all began, this life we call Christianity, because of God’s desire to bless His Creation. It all began with one man, Abraham who lived in the city of Ur. In Genesis, chapter 12, we read that God asked Abraham to leave his extended family and "go to a place I will show you." The whole purpose of that was not just to make Abraham move, or not just to test Abraham’s commitment. God asked Abraham to "go" and to move and to follow, in order that God could bless Abraham. God’s promise to Abraham was, if he did as God asked God would bless him. God would bless him personally, bless his family, and bless his descendents. But all of this didn’t just happen because God wanted to bless Abraham. God wanted to bless Abraham for one reason and one reason only. He wanted to bless all of humanity through Abraham. God blessed Abraham in order that Abraham could be a blessing to others. Genesis 12:3b, "…and all people on earth will be blessed through you." What Does a Blessing Look Like? Do you miss the blessings of God because you fail to recognize them? Can you not see what God wants to "show you?" Do you associate the blessings of this life in the "tangible" only … the monetary things received? Do you allow the blessings of this life to move into the realm of the unseen and untouched? Those blessing that are deep and beneath us. Visiting with someone who was struggling with a particular moment and person in their life, I asked if he could see the blessings? His quick response blessed me, He said, "Of course. But God has to help me grieve and pray until I get to them." Can you see the blessings of God in the not-so-good experiences of life? Isn’t it interesting that when bad times come upon people, they have the tendency to speak "curses" (not cussing)? Curses sound like, "I hate this!" "This is unfair!" "I quit!" and so forth. It could be that the very hardship you find yourself going through is God’s "showing you" and "making you" a blessing. Are you cursing what God is trying to do in your life? Is God trying to bless you? If we really believe Romans 8:28 … And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (NLT) … then we can look for and see the blessings of God being given even in the hardships of our lives. Blessed to be a Blessing… As Christians, we are blessed to be a blessing. I pray that this summer, right now, you are able to stop for one moment and, as the old hymn said, "count your blessings, count them one by one." When you count, don’t just try to count the things that feel good, but also count the things that challenge you or turn you to God. We are incredibly blessed at Saint James. We are blessed, not because everything is going perfectly or is rosy. Far from it. We continue to miss our Parish Mom, Frances Fuchs who is recovering from her broken leg. We will bid a sad and happy good-bye to Sue and Stan Winder. Mary Lou Hawk and your Day School Board are working OVERTIME to get through the morass of DSS codes for the start-up of our Day School. The Summer Tutoring Program is starting. What a joy and what an amazing number of details that must be dealt with. The Guyana Team is preparing for Mission with vaccinations and VBS planning. The Vestry and staff are reorganizing our office administration, people and systems. And it goes on and on. I bet you have some too. We are blessed at Saint James because we recognize that in every good thing that comes, God is encouraging us. And we recognize in every challenge that comes, God is also encouraging us. He is encouraging us to come a little closer. We are blessed to be a blessing and I pray, this summer, you can see the people God is blessing through the ministry we share. I pray that God gives you the joy of seeing your Arthur Come and See Annual Meeting for Ministry, 2007 After Philip met Jesus he found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law and about whom the prophets also wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there? Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. John 1:44ff Our Mission Statement is: TO PROCLAIM THE GRACE OF GOD IN JESUS CHRIST Our mission statement defines who we are. Our Vision Statement describes where we’re going. BUILDING A KINGDOM COMMUNITY WE ARE: A GREAT COMMANDMENT CHURCH A GREAT COMMISSION CHURCH COME AND SEE The Hebrew people had longed for the promised Messiah for centuries. They longed for Him because they were tired of being oppressed, and maligned, and conquered, and murdered. They were tired. They were tired of being in bondage, from Egypt to the Exile, from Babylon to Rome. Maybe some of them had even recognized their bondage to the Law. That is why Philip and others were driven to find their family, their friends and INVITE THEM to COME for themselves and see the TRUTH of this DELIVERER, that He would be the means of their deliverance from bondage in every form. OUR INVITATION We have an invitation to offer also. We too have a Deliverer to whom we invite people to “come and see.” Please, please, don’t be fooled that your family and your friends don’t need this Deliverer as much as the folk of Philip’s day. You know that the oppression and bondage, the prisons of sin and hurt and power and desires are just as powerful today as then. My prayer for you and me this year is: “Dear Father, give us a Spirit of Invitation and Welcome for all whom we meet in our lives that they may “come and see” Jesus Christ, here. WHAT WILL THEY COME AND SEE? There is much for the seeker and the faithful to come and see at Saint James. Our OutReach Ministries are growing in faithfulness, effectiveness, scope, and in participation. No one will listen to or hear our invitation to “come and see” Jesus unless they recognize first that we have come and been affected. Our Worship continues to be orthodox, reverent, life-giving, and available. That we offer four possibilities of worship on Sunday mornings does honor to the breadth of the Body of Christ. Ward Moore, Organist and Choirmaster has brought great energy and faithful prayer as the first full-time Minister of Music at Saint James. His effect is being felt in EVERY worship service and in the new concerts being offered on Sunday afternoons. Yea for Ward and Pam and others, with more to come. And Yea for the new, expanded choir. What a difference you are making. Our Ministry Teams are an effective means of organization for all our ministries that will serve us now and allow us to grow. We have many faithful folk giving sacrificially of their time, talents, and lives to serve our Lord by serving others. Still, we must admit that we have to improve our heart to recruit. A large part of the “welcome” that we pray for is for people to be allowed to become involved and make their difference at Saint James. Our specialized ministries are working faithfully and diligently and bearing fruit. These specialized ministries are the ECW and their chapters, the Men’s Breakfast and Supper meetings with their attendant ministries of outreach. The 50+ Supper Gathering continues to bless those who come. The 50+ Group scored a big hit at their Valentines’ celebration. (hope you didn’t miss it) The EYC, Student Ministries, and Youth Ministries are all blessing our youth, inviting and leading them into a new and closer relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Nursery has new leadership and continues to be a safe place to which parents may entrust their children. A new and upcoming specialized ministry for this year will be the start-up of the Saint James Day School. The Vestry has appointed a Board of Directors and has hired a new Day School Director. Mary Lou Hawk brings faith, desire, child care experience, a willingness for hard work (wow she’ll need that) a nursing degree, and degree work in Early Childhood Education and more. The Day School will open, by God’s Grace and the cooperation of the Department of Social Services in August with room for some 40+ infant to 4 year old children. This founding of your Day School is being made possible by a faithful gift from the Wyman Frampton family. It will improve our ministry and visibility to the James Island community. With all that said about our specialized ministries, I pray you have heard and recognize that we must reorganize our ministry structure and content as we see the need for FAMILY MINISTRY. FAMILY MINISTRY I quote from my recent article in the Jubilate Deo… “Have you ever had a moment when you realized you were doing it wrong? One of those moments when you realized you had missed an important fundamental? Dribbling a basketball, you learn to keep your head up and not watch the ball. That’s a fundamental. Or when you learn to drive you learn to be aware of other drivers and not just your own car. That’s a fundamental too. When Peter Rothermel, Coordinator of Diocesan Faith Formation, introduced the staff of Saint James to Visionary Parenting, we realized we had missed a fundamental. “Visionary Parenting is a ministry offering, created by Dr. Rob Rienow of Wheaton College. A ministry offering, and much more! Dr. Rienow makes the point that the first commandment is not found in Exodus, chapter 20, but in Genesis 1:28, “Be fruitful and increase in number…” When Jesus was once asked, "What is the most important commandment?" He replied by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. These commands are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children." This is God’s purpose for family. This means it is also God’s purpose for Christian Discipleship. Visionary Parenting is actually a reclamation of God’s order and purpose in creation for procreation and the nurture of children in the knowledge and love of the Lord. “Visionary Parenting is having a profound effect on our overall ministry at Saint James.” The impact that Visionary Parenting and Family Ministry are having on us at Saint James is that we realize that we must place the ministry of discipling children back where it belongs, IN THE HOME. This realization and effort must have a unifying effect on all our discipleship and specialized ministries. Yes, we will continue to have Women’s groups and Men’s groups, and student groups. But we will also recognize that we must, first and foremost have Family Groups. One place FAMILY MINISTRY will have its biggest and most useful impact will be in the Home Groups and Family Groups. These small groups will be a place of emphasis this year and from now on. This is because we have now recognized Scripturally, that the formation of one’s faith does not take place best in the middle of a fine sermon or good Sunday School class. It takes place best at the knee of a parent, grandparent and/or sitting with friends in a trusted Home Group. May God guide and bless us in this. THE ELEPHANT AT SAINT JAMES Often is seems that we ignore what has been idiomatically called “the elephant in the room.” Ignoring the elephant means that in a discussion, those involved choose to ignore or deny an obvious concern. For we who are Saint James the elephant we must not ignore is that Saint James is not growing as we had expected and prayed. While there are many signs of spiritual life and God’s blessings here, we have not increased in numbers as hoped. Now please allow me to state here that numerical growth is neither the proof of a Christ-centered church or the only goal. But, growth numerical growth is important if we are called to increase the impact of our ministries. With a larger active congregation we would be able to have more tutors for Murray LaSaine, more Greeters to welcome the timid visitor, more Stephen’s Ministers to care for any and all of us in our seasons of pastoral need, more team members on our Ministry Teams. And we all know, worship just feels better when it is full. So, let’s talk about the elephant. If I knew the cause or had a ready solution, you know I’d be shouting it to the rooftops. What I do know is that God has a Word in it. There is something our Lord wants me, us all to learn in this season. It may be patience or humility, or a deeper servant-hood, or a further submission, or just to pray more. Whatever our Lord’s Word in this may be I do know that Jesus will build His Church. JESUS WILL BUILD HIS CHURCH Our culture is in a downward spiral, but the culture shall not prevail. Our nation is at a spiritual low, but Christ's kingdom advances against the night. Our testimony has been sullied by compromise and scandal, but His blood has not lost its power to cleanse. His name has not lost its power to save. His Word has not lost its power to conquer. His covenant endures, and His church shall yet rise to trample the gates of hell and declare His inevitable glory. He will build his church. LASTLY… I am coming to the end of my ninth-year with you as your Pastor and Rector. I celebrate our time together the same way a husband and wife celebrate their anniversaries. These anniversaries are celebrated not just because of the joy of time together. Anniversaries are also celebrated as a testament to God’s intention of molding two people as one in witness to the Trinity. That is why I rejoice in nine years. God is molding us together. He is changing us more fully into what He wants in His Body of Saint James. In celebration of our time together in shared ministry may I simply restate here and now that, “with God’s continued call and your blessing, I AM NOT GOING ANYWHERE.” I feel God’s call to Saint James more strongly today then I did nine years ago and with your affirmation of my call, we’ve only just begun. I continue to see more clearly what God wants and is doing at Saint James. I continue to see with you, what God is building here. I continue to see more clearly how God wants to “Build His Church,” this KINGDOM COMMUNITY. I am excited about that and want to be a part of it. I thank God that I can be part of the ministry we share at Saint James. Finally thank you. Thank you for allowing me to be your Pastor and Rector. There is no greater honor, privilege, or blessing. That God has allowed me to be part of His Ministry with each of you continues to humble me and bless me. I count it a privilege to be your pastor. Arthur Ephesians 2:8 NOT SUITABLE VIEWING! from Louise Weld As the families of America attempt to come to terms with the recent violent tragedy at Virginia Tech, news reports fill our TV screens with images of violence and emotional distress that are not suitable viewing for young children. Dr. Bill Maier, vice president and psychologist in residence at Focus on the Family, suggests parents pay close attention to children’s exposure to the media. “When we see the constant images on TV, when we read the stories of these young people whose lives have been lost or read about the grieving parents, sometimes it can be completely overwhelming to us,” he said. “Do not allow them to watch any media coverage of the aftermath. Young children are not equipped to cope with those sorts of images,” he said. If young children have already been exposed, Dr. Maier says parents must take the time to talk about what they’ve seen, how it made them feel, and give them a chance to express their emotions. He recommends reading 1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you,” and Philippians 4:6-7, “ Donot be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” “We hear those things over and over again,” Dr. Maier said. “Now is the time to put them into practice.” “Regardless of how much suffering there is in this world, regardless of the evil, regardless of sickness,” Dr. Maier said, “through the redemptive power of Jesus Christ we have a guaranteed promise that someday all the suffering, all these tears, all this pain will no longer exist and we’ll be with Him for eternity.” [Exerpted from Focus on Family CitizenLink] Christian Preschool & Childcare for Saint James and James Island As the vision for our shared ministry at Saint James becomes larger and clearer, there are several themes that predominate. One of those themes is ministry to families and children. There are many, many ways God is using members of Saint James: the OutReach Summer School for Murray LaSaine students; our foreign missions ministry both in Honduras and Guyana; the ESL (English Second Language) teachers who attend Saint James; PACT (Parents and Children Together); a growing Nursery ministry; and the new Visionary Parenting classes offered for families here in and around Saint James. I could go on and on. It seems that our Lord continues to grow your heart, the heart of Saint James, to bring a Biblical foundation to families and to bring the life and ministry of Jesus Christ to children near and far. Isn’t that wonderful? The Bible is very clear, encouraging and commanding parents and families about their role in His creation. This begins with the first commandment in Genesis 1:28. That’s right, the first commandment is in Genesis, not Exodus. God’s first commandment to us is “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” God advances his plan in Genesis 18:17, through Abraham. Deuteronomy 4:9, tells us to teach God’s plan, care, and commandments to our children and to their children after them. Yes, God’s role for families and children is very clear in Scripture. We are to remember all the Lord has done for us and to pass that on to our children. That is what we are doing and want to do at Saint James. That is the WHY for a Preschool and childcare ministry at Saint James. We want to guide and enable parents to “remember” who God is, what He has done for them and to teach that to their children. For over a year now I have been working with the Vestry, staff, and other knowledgeable members of Saint James to initiate a Preschool/Daycare program at Saint James. There have been lots of prayer, research and hard work done to determine the need for such a school and ministry for James Island and for Saint James. We have worked and prayed to ascertain the best possible use of our facilities, staff, energy, and ministry. We have received a very generous financial bequest from the Wyman Frampton family. This bequest coupled with a grant from our Diocesan Congregational Development fund will enable Saint James to start this school. The Saint James Day School will begin receiving enrollment applications in February, with a planned starting date for classes and childcare in August 2007. The school will be wholly owned and directed by Saint James, our Vestry and a Board appointed by the Vestry. It will use the facilities of our Sunday School building. The school will offer a quality program, with developmentally appropriate education, supplemented by childcare for the schedules of working families. The mission of Saint James Day School will be to provide a loving and secure Christian environment where children can develop socially, emotionally, physically, intellectually and spiritually in a Bible-based program run by a dedicated, professional staff. I invite your prayers and your ministry as, together, we continue to follow our Lord’s call to be a light to the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in many and varied ways. In this particular instance, our call is to families, infants and toddlers who need a loving, nurturing, Christian foundation. And in all of this, to God be the Glory. Arthur He Took the Form of Man “God’s thoughts and ways are not our own, and I can’t understand/ Why he wrapped his love in flesh and blood, and took the form of man.” —from “He took the Form of Man” by Bill Batstone „ 1985 Batroc Music (Admin. By EMI Christian Music Publishing) Why would God feel the imperative to leave the confines of glory in heaven, take on human flesh, and come to live a fully human life in this world he created? The very concept boggles the mind. So how can we explain it? Is it enough that humans were created by God to enjoy intimate fellowship with him, a purpose that had been forfeited through sin? God’s intent in creation cannot ultimately be frustrated. Surely he would be able to resolve the situation without the need for suffering. If God is God, he should be able to bring his will to pass. Couldn’t he merely wave his hand, and undo the things that had been done? Couldn’t he simply look the other way, and declare that we would have “do-overs?” Even God cannot act in way that is contrary to his nature. If he could, he would not truly be God. That means the resolution of our problem has to be in accordance with the imprint of his nature upon the created order. When he made humans in his image, he established that our fulfillment would be found as we submit to his will. The penalty for choosing to live by our own design is death. If we were to blow off the concept of Original Sin, nevertheless we would have to acknowledge that in the course of our lives we have each chosen to do what we wanted to do, even though we knew it was not the best course for us, for other people, or for God’s purposes. This is to acknowledge that we stand guilty, and are liable to the consequences of our actions. We can pay the penalty, but we cannot pay it and live to enjoy fellowship with God. This can only happen if someone else pays the penalty for us. That is where the Nativity comes in. A human life is forfeit in order to satisfy the just requirement ofthe law. No other human has a life to offer that is not already subject to the penalty of death. So the Lord wrapped his love in flesh and blood, and took the form of man. In love he reaches out to restore what we are powerless to restore. It begins with his birth, a human baby with no advantage over any other human baby born into this world. In love he submits to the process of growth through the stages of human development. Having lived a life that was not compromised by sin, he is able to offer his life to satisfy the penalty we deserve. In the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God’s will is reestablished as supreme, and his nature is not compromised. In his love, he still comes to restore us to a place of intimate fellowship with himself. As you look into the manger this Christmas season, see the reflection of the Father’s love that endured so much to bring us back to the state he created humanity to enjoy. Joyful in the service of God among you, Robert a Response of the Heart When speaking on stewardship one Sunday in our parish in Louisiana, I said something like, “If you are giving because you think you have to, or out of a sense of duty, God doesn’t need your money. Tear up your check.” My Treasurer began to shake his head muttering, “Not the checks...Not the checks.” It is a theme I would repeat, however, and especially as we are approaching the time to ask for your pledge of support for the coming year. Carl Bright, a pastor friend of mine, has said: “You can do nothing to earn God’s love. You can do nothing to deserve it. He will love you no more if you give more than a tithe, and no less if you give nothing.” We approach stewardship not as a requirement to keep the love of God coming, or as dues to see that our part is paid. Rightly understood, we are called to look honestly at what the Lord has done for us, and to ask the question, “Does this deserve a response of love and gratitude.” Martha and I have practiced the tithe our entire married life, but I confess there was a time when I did it out of a sense of teeth-gritting duty. We had hit a crunch in our cash flow, and I had developed a sour attitude—not much gratitude. As part of my regular study I came upon 2 Cor 9:5-7: “So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given…. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” In my heart, I “heard” God telling me he was not pleased. He cared less about the money I was giving than he did about the attitude of my heart. He called me to repent. Make no mistake about it—the tithe (10%) is the scriptural standard God has set for giving to our home parish; anything more than 10%, or given elsewhere, is an offering. Jesus never overruled this principle, and, in fact, affirmed it in Matthew 23:23 : “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices…. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law…. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” His first concern with his disciples is the condition of their hearts. Are we growing in openness and generosity, both in spirit and in our material resources? Are we willing to trust God to care for us as we move in obedience in this important area of our lives? Discipleship as a Christian is to be extended over the whole of our lives. It is a privilege to serve you and the Lord at Saint James. Robert a Dear People of God I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. Paul’s words to the Ephesians come to mind as I think about the glorious blessing God has given me to be among his people at Saint James. I first came to Saint James as a substitute organist many years ago I was so warmly welcomed- by the choir -- that I knew if I ever needed a church, Saint James would be the one for me. The day came when I did return, this time in need this time of a spiritual hospital. I found a community where healing and transformation were expected and experienced because of the gracious mercy of our Lord. I have heard many newcomers since then say the same thing I felt- that walking in the door, into the warm fellowship, whether the church or the ministry center, was like coming home. Before I had been here long, AND against my better judgment, AND contrary to my plans for the future; I sensed God telling me he wanted me in the ordained ministry. Thankfully, the rest of the story is history—coming to work here as a lay person, getting turned down for ordination by the diocese, then getting accepted… going off to seminary with your prayers and your generous financial support… and the greatest blessing of all, being called by the Vestry to return here as part of the clergy staff. On September 10, Bishops Salmon and Haynsworth ordained me in a service that was to me a celebration of God’s grace, Saint James style. A wonderful (thanks to Yvonne, Art, Peter and crew) reception followed, with fountains flowing chocolate! Does the fallen world get any better than that? You may not know what it is like to be on the staff of this church- under the visionary and compassionate leadership of Arthur-- a staff who pray and study Scripture together, who care deeply about each other as well as about the ministry here, who feel that God has put each of us here—together—for a great work he is doing of in-reach and out-reach, to draw people to him. I am deeply blessed by the privilege and blessing of being a part of your lives, of hearing about your own experiences of faith and life, and of prayerfully seeking God’s mission for each of us and for our kingdom community. We have elected a new Bishop of South Carolina, a faithful and godly man whose openness to the Holy Spirit and whose humility about his call to come here assures me that God has his purposeful hand on our diocese. I have just read with some sadness the Archbishop of Canterbury’s ‘pastoral letter’ about how there are no clear, quick answers to the troubles of the Episcopal Church. How wonderful it would be if there were a simple solution! The way for Saint James, however, IS clear, and the solution simple: we want people to know Jesus. In a shifting landscape as precarious as the sands around Morris Island Lighthouse, we are called to be a lighthouse. Saint James stands on the solid rock of the faith given to the saints. God has drawn each of us –young and old—here for the only purpose that gives eternal meaning to our lives: to love one another and to participate in the works he has already prepared for us on James Island and beyond, works of salvation and healing and transformation. I have not stopped giving thanks for you, for the ways you bless my life and for your openness to the Holy Spirit to work in and through you, to the praise of God’s glory. Louise RECLAIMING THE MISSION OF CHURCH Three years ago we began a journey with our Faith and our Lord that most of us would not have chosen. It is a journey that is similar to the journey of the Reformers during the Great Reformation of the 16th century. That journey is one that is both forwards and backwards. It is a journey forwards, in that the Church is not an institution or an organization, rather, it is an organism, the Living Body of Christ. That means the Church is a living entity. And like every living thing, it is either growing or it is dying. That is why this is a journey forward. The Church must be moving forward, growing, carrying the Good News of new life and salvation in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ or it will be dying. At the same time, we must recognize that this is a journey backwards. It is a journey back to the Cross. It is a journey back to the Reformation that is our roots. It is a journey back to the faith once delivered to the saints. As the Church, we are the Body of Christ, and we must recognize that we do not have the spiritual permission to be innovators of the Faith, but we have the mission to be purveyors of the Faith. We all have heard and recognize that the sabotage of the Faith and our denomination didn’t begin at the General Convention of 2003. It just became clear then. And now, at the General Convention of 2006 this same confusion became confrontive. We recognize that this sabotage, this confusion in the Faith began many years ago. Therefore, if we are to be the Church Faithful we must go back, we must reclaim the Faith that was entrusted with us, we must Reclaim the Mission of the Church. What does it mean to reclaim this Mission? What does it mean to move forwards while going backwards to reclaim the Faith? It means that we will look to our foundations. We will take a fresh look at the foundation laid by the Reformers in our Book of Common Prayer. I offer you this statement made by the Common Cause RoundTable on August 18th, 2006, a meeting of nine orthodox Anglican jurisdictions in the United States. 1) "We confess the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments to be the inspired Word of God, containing all things necessary for salvation, and to be the final authority and unchangeable standard for Christian faith and life. 2) We confess Baptism and the Supper of the Lord to be Sacraments ordained by Christ Himself in the Gospel, and thus to be ministered with unfailing use of His words of institution and of the elements ordained by Him. 3) We confess the godly historic Episcopate as an inherent part of the apostolic faith and practice, and therefore as integral to the fullness and unity of the Body of Christ. 4) We confess as proved by most certain warrants of Holy Scripture the historic faith of the undivided church as declared in the three Catholic Creeds: the Apostles', the Nicene, and the Athanasian. 5) Concerning the seven Councils of the undivided Church, we affirm the teaching of the first four Councils and the Christological clarifications of the fifth, sixth and seventh Councils, in so far as they are agreeable to the Holy Scriptures. 6) We receive The Book of Common Prayer as set forth by the Church of England in 1662, together with the Ordinal attached to the same, as a standard for Anglican doctrine and discipline, and, with the Books which preceded it, as the standard for the Anglican tradition of worship. 7) We receive the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion of 1562, taken in their literal and grammatical sense, as expressing the Anglican response to certain doctrinal issues controverted at that time, and as expressing the fundamental principles of authentic Anglican belief." To reclaim the Mission of our Church will take prayer, patience, cooperation, and many decisions. We will do this together, trusting in the Godly leadership you have chosen in our Vestry. May I offer you just two thoughts at this time? 1) Come to Sunday School. Beginning on September 10th, your Ministry Staff and I will offer a class, The Reformation: What It Means to You. This class will be more extensive than any Confirmation Class you ever took. Also, participate in a Small Group, Wednesday offerings and one of the Bible Studies and Christian Education offerings during the week. An uninformed faith is a dangerous faith. 2) Recognize the purpose of our worship schedule. With the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, the Episcopal Church moved to a worship plan that was called "eucharistically centered." This plan was in contrast to the worship of the church from the time of Archbishop Cranmer’s first Prayer Book in 1549. The intention was that the church would gather around the sacrament, around the Communion Table. The problem with this is that the Sacrament became separated from the Word. And now you can see the fruit this decision has borne. The clergy and leadership of Saint James have always recognized this. That is why we have always included Morning Prayer, a service of Word and Prayer in our Traditional Worship. During this past summer, we have also used this alternating worship schedule of Holy Communion and Morning Prayer out of necessity in our Contemporary Worship. Now, I would like to ask our Contemporary Worship to continue to use this alternating schedule, not due to necessity, but out of a faithful choice. May we recognize and affirm in our worship schedule that the sacrament has no power apart from the Word. Also, may we remember the mission to which we are called, to invite and welcome people who are not yet Christians. People who will be more easily welcomed in a worship service of praise, Word, and prayer. There is much more that we must do and will do to reclaim the Church. In September we will choose a new bishop. As these and other decisions are made we must proclaim our identity. Are we Anglican, Episcopalian, or Christian? We must be clear ourselves and then make our identity and mission clear to our community of James Island. Please know that our purpose, our mission is not to straighten out the Episcopal Church or to be good Anglicans. Our mission is to be God’s means in this place to share the Gospel, the saving, redeeming relationship with Jesus Christ with all whom our Heavenly Father draws to His Son. I pray you will join me, not with trepidation, but with some amount of faithful expectancy and excitement as we journey with our Lord in this new time of Reformation. We have been entrusted with a sacred opportunity – to reclaim the Mission of the Church. Arthur Revelation 22:18,19
General Convention, 2006 & The Anglican Communion Arthur Jenkins, Sr. Pastor, Saint James Church, James Island It is clear now, following the actions of our General Convention, 2006, that the TRAJECTORY of the decisions made by Episcopal Church at General Convention 2003 continues. It is also clear now that the Episcopal Church of the USA as it understands itself, has chosen to "walk apart" from the worldwide Anglican Communion. We are no longer a Denomination needing discussion and understanding. We are no longer a Denomination using different words to express the same truth. Rather, we are NOW a denomination of TWO CHURCHES. Clearly it is time for action. A bit of history: the General Convention of the Episcopal Church meets every three years. There, 4 laypersons, 4 clergy, and their bishops represent each diocese. These delegates and bishops are to be representative of the church and speak to the issues at hand. As you may remember, at the 2003 General Convention the national church voted to ignore the mind and consensus of the worldwide Anglican Communion (the international body of which Saint James’ is a part). And, ultimately rejected the place and role of Scripture as the touchstone of life, doctrine and practice of the church and individual. For the past three years the Primates of the Worldwide Anglican Communion, the Anglican Communion Network (of which we are a member), the Diocese of South Carolina, and Saint James have all been working to restore the Episcopal Church to the "faith once delivered to the saints." It has been our plea and our prayer that the Episcopal Church would return to embrace biblical, creedal Christianity. Now, following the actions and inaction of General Convention, 2006, it is clear that the trajectory continues. In response to the actions of General Convention, 2003, the Archbishop of Canterbury appointed a commission to write a report now known as the Windsor Report. This report asked for several very specific responses of regret, and repentance, and "invited [us] to effect a moratorium on the election and consent to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate who is living in a same gender union until some new consensus in the Anglican Communion emerges." These requests of the Windsor Report were made that the trust and unity of the Anglican Communion and the Episcopal Church of the USA be restored. These requests and directions given by the Windsor Report were IGNORED. There was a last minute effort at passing a joint resolution (B033) that fell far short of any request the Windsor Report required and must clearly be seen as a hypocritical act on behalf of the leadership to give something to Windsor and the Archbishop of Canterbury. The General Convention, 2006 moved again to continue it’s trajectory of revision and chose the current Bishop of Nevada, Katharine Jefferts Schori as the next Presiding Bishop (PB) of the Episcopal Church. The decision to elect a woman as the PB, the Chief Pastor of the Episcopal Church is made without any recognition to the understanding of "headship" and "covering" as seen in God’s self-revelation in Scripture. This decision ignores the fact that we have at least three dioceses who have not yet affirmed the ordination of women, much less bishops and ignores that we are part of the Worldwide Communion where many Primates will not be able to accept a woman in this role. It is also clear that Bishop Schori’s theology is revisionist at the far end of the spectrum. She has been publicly critical of the Windsor Report requests and has produced the only diocesan policy in favor of blessing same-sex unions in complete disregard to the requests of the Anglican Communion. With so much that now seems clear following General Convention, 2006, I too must be clear. First, I repudiate the actions and the continuing trajectory of the Episcopal Church, USA. It is clear that the Episcopal Church, USA has chosen to separate itself from agreement with the worldwide Anglican Communion and from the "faith once delivered to the saints." I will not go with them. I will continue to support our Bishops, our Diocese, and the American Anglican Communion as the means of maintaining our participation within the Anglican Communion. I will continue to pray and lead that, we, Saint James, will remain submitted to the authority of Holy Scripture, grounded in the Theology of the Cross and Proclaiming the Grace of God in Jesus Christ. And together, we will continue to offer our witness to the joy of a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ. I remain blessed to be your pastor, Arthur Jenkins God's Church The Nicene Creed was composed at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD. It dealt with the issues of Trinitarian faith, and the manner in which God revealed himself in Jesus. In the face of those who challenged Jesus’ full equality with the Father, they adopted this unequivocal descriptive phrase: “God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father.” The statement could not have been clearer, and was overwhelmingly adopted by the bishops of the known world (including two from England!). Nevertheless, the Arians did not go away. The final formal challenges to Nicene faith ended in the 8th Century, and recent events make it clear that the Church still is harassed by leaders who do not hold an orthodox understanding of Jesus’ nature. Why the short history lesson? This month (13th-21st) the General Convention of the Episcopal Church will meet in Columbus, OH. Deputies will consider some rather important and dramatic issues that threaten to tear the Anglican Communion apart. Issues of sexual ethics have been in the headlines for almost 40 years now, but these are merely “presenting issues.” The foundational issue is the source of authority for deciding doctrine and morals. Are the Bible, and the unbroken 2003-year-old tradition of the Church still reliable and authoritative guides for understanding the Lord, and his will for his church? Objective truth is true regardless of the sentiments of any culture and time in history, so I would answer “Yes.” While I am not optimistic about where General Convention will come down on these questions, there is one supreme hope upon which I stand: Jesus Christ is the Lord of his church. This is the first entry on the masthead of Saint James’ official publications, and it remains objectively true whether it is acknowledged or not. And God’s will for his church cannot ultimately be frustrated. You and I are blessed to take our place with those throughout the ages who have had the opportunity of defend the faith. Though the present controversies have already dragged on longer than I like, God has not relinquished the title to his church, and he will bring correction in his time. I’m blessed to serve among you. Robert FROM MY PRAYERS FOR SAINT JAMES January 2006 Our Seminarian Approved… Let me be the first to “formally” announce that Louise Weld, “Our Seminarian” has received approval for Ordination to the Sacred Order of Deacons. Yea God and Yea Louise. All of Saint James is proud and blessed that we have played some small role in raising Louise up to a new role in ministry. Thanks Be To God that this is just the beginning. Her ordination date is set for February 8th, 7:00 P.M. You won’t want to miss this. Life Stewardship… Beginning January 22nd through February 26th, Robert, Louise, Martha and I will offer a sermon series entitled Life Stewardship. Now why would we begin the year with a series of sermons on stewardship? First, it is because it is the second greatest theme in the Bible. Secondly, it is because each of us at this very moment has the gift of a new year, a new day, and new life that God entrusts in our care. That is the heart of stewardship. Now don’t be worried. We are not asking you for money. It is sad that every time someone mentions “stewardship” in church people immediately think pledging or giving an offering. Stewardship is much more than that. It is the faithful use of the precious gifts God gives us. I pray we can discuss some important scriptural topics about how God has given us the very great gift of LIFE and He has spent a great deal on us that we might enjoy that gift to its fullest. Remember, Jesus said it this way, “I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly.” Abundant Life, 100 Fold Life is what Life Stewardship is all about. I pray you’ll make a special effort to join us for worship during Epiphany as we honor God’s lavish offerings to us. The Promises of God – Lent 2006… What is the power of a promise broken? It ruins relationships, destroys trust, and creates fear. Doesn’t it? Then, what is the power of a promise kept? Doesn’t it build relationships, restore trust, and create safety? Throughout the history of Scripture God has made promises to His people. To Abraham God promised, “You will be my people and I will be your God.” This wasn’t a bilateral covenant made with Abraham, you do this and I’ll do my part. No. This was God’s promise to Abraham and all his family who come after him. And there are more promises, so many more. The Promises Fulfilled … In Second Corinthians 1:20, Paul writes, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “YES” in Christ.” What is the power of a Promise kept? Promises Fulfilled IN Christ Jesus • God has promised that all things work together for good to those who love and serve Him faithfully (Romans 8:28) • God has promised that His grace is sufficient for us. (2 Corinthians 12:9) • God has promised to supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. That's Philippians 4:19. • He has promised us his Saving Grace for our children, Acts 16:31, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.” • He promised we will never be alone.., “Surely I am with you always, even to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 • Our Lord promised us a place in Paradise…, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me.” During Lent, 2006, we are going to pray over, study, and meditate on the Promises of God. Your clergy and staff are at this very minute preparing a Lenten Offering of Meditations and Teaching for Home Groups, The Wednesday Night Group, and Sunday School. What is the power of a promise kept? It restores. Make your plans now to join a Home Group or the Wednesday Night Group and Worship that the power of God’s Promises kept for you in Christ Jesus may restore your life and Joy. Heartfelt Thanksgiving… Kay and I cannot fully express our gratitude for your generosity in the Christmas gift of money given us. The generosity of this gift is only surpassed by the generosity of your prayers for me and my family. Thank you. Thank you. And I thank God always that He allows me to serve Him by serving you.  ArthurLIVING A GENEROUS LIFE Here we are in the middle of 40 Days of Community. This is 40 Days of focus on Living Together and What We Do Better Together. During these 40 Days we have been learning to live a Generous Life. Why live generously? Because generosity Builds Community. Any time that I am generous with you, or I am generous with the poor or I am generous with anybody, with God or anybody, that's where my heart tends to go. And every time I give to God it draws my heart closer to God. And every time I give to you, it draws my heart closer to you. Giving with generosity creates community. Here’s the way Jesus described this. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." How true. If you don’t believe this just go buy some stock and I bet you’ll begin to check on that stock every day. Or, loan your favorite, special car to someone for a trip. You’ll be interested in where they are and how their trip is going. Or send your child to nursery school or college -- along with your money – and I’ll bet your be interested in how they’re doing. Generosity builds community. Because we are learning that we NEED ONE ANOTHER, we have been learning to live generously. MISSIONS PROJECTS You have been generous in your Missions Projects. I pray you have begun to hear some of the amazingly creative missions projects that the small groups are doing. I am completely amazed and blessed by the creativity that has come from you small groups. You have found 20+ new areas of need and ministry. You are lovingly and powerfully meeting those needs. Wow! Way to go for Jesus. You have been generous with your life. A WALL OF FOOD You are being generous with your food. Have you seen it? Is it growing? Do you think it will really be a wall of food? In the prayerful call to change the balance of hunger on James Island, at least for a season, we are bringing nonperishable food to church. Please, between now and November 13th, let’s fill the place up. We will display some of the food in the Church. Most of it we will stack against the wall by the Ministry Center stage. Dear God, for the sake of the hungry, let it become a Wall of Food. MINISTRY FAIR On Sunday, November 6th, you will be asked to be generous with your ministry. Scripture teaches us that God gave us Spiritual gifts, not for our entertainment and good, but for the good of the Body of Christ. God has given us gifts, talents, and abilities that we may be generous with them. On November 6th, come and be generous with your ministry. We need you to make the Body complete. GENEROUS WITH YOUR MONEY Later in November we will ask you to be generous with your money. As Christians we can be generous because we are reconnected with the Providential, Sovereign Care of God. Because of Jesus, by Grace, through Faith, we are no longer cut off from the source of all provision. Therefore, we don’t’ have to be a survivalist (only the strong survive). Now we can be generous. At Saint James we tithe. We don’t tithe because we are supposed to. We tithe because we trust God provision and we recognize and are thankful for all God has given us. And, we tithe because we know it builds community. I pray this year by God’s Grace you recognize your blessings. I pray you are able to trust God for your provision. And I pray that you see this ministry, the ministry we share as worthy of your tithe, worthy of being the place where your heart is. I pray you want to be part of this Community. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Learn to live generously because Generosity Builds Community. ArthurMalachi 3:11 40 DAYS OF COMMUNITY- WHAT ON EARTH ARE WE HERE FOR? October 2005 I am very excited about all that God has in store for our church during 40 Days of Community. I want to begin by sharing with you a story from the Old Testament about a prophet named Elijah and a woman who came to him one day. This woman had lost her husband and was fearful about the future and how her needs would be met and so she comes to Elijah in desperation and Elijah says to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”. She says I’m fearful about having the needs of my family met and all I have is just a little bit of oil. Well, Elijah kind of gives her a strange instruction. He says, “I want you to go out and gather as many jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. And, I want you to go into your house with your son and behind closed doors begin to take the little bit of oil that you have and pour it into those jars and God will meet your needs.” Well, in faith, not really sure how this is going to happen, she begins to go out and gather the jars. She goes back to her home and closes the door and with her son she begins to take that little bit of oil that she has and somehow miraculously, supernaturally God begins to take that little bit of oil and it fills one jar and two jars and jar after jar is filled with oil and God meets her needs. Well, for me that has become a great word picture for faith. As she went out and gathered those jars she wasn’t exactly sure how God was going to do it, but she trusted that God would be faithful to meet her need. When I think of the 40 Days of Community, one of the words that comes to my mind is the word “faith”. Some of you have taken a step of faith and you’ve said I’m not exactly sure how this is going to happen or how God is going to use me, but in faith I want to open my home, and I’m willing to be a host home volunteer. Bless you. On October 9th we will officially begin 40 Days of Community here at Saint James Church and the response to the challenge to serve as a host home has been absolutely overwhelming. This is an exciting development in the life of our church and I just want to say thanks. Thanks for your willingness, thanks for you sacrifice and thanks for just taking a step of faith to open your home. Now I’m sure that some of you who are serving as host home volunteers have had years of experience in opening your home to groups, but for many this is your first experience. There’s excitement and anticipation. But, there can also be some fear and uncertainty. I just want to say that’s okay. I want to challenge you to let that anxiety drive you to depend on God and to pray even harder and to pray even more. God can and will use you. Now, like that widow in the story, you may not be exactly sure how this is all going to work out, but I promise you that God will be faithful. So focus these next few weeks on your relationship with those around you. Take time for conversations out in the front yard. Take a friend to lunch and sincerely be interested in what is going on in their life. Take a few moments and listen carefully to people at work and seize those God moments that he brings into your life where you can inject an invitation where you could let them know that you’re going to be hosting a series in your home entitled “What on Earth Are WE Here For?” and take the risk of inviting them. Not everyone will say yes, but some will. Who knows what God could do in their life as a result of that one invitation? I get really excited when I think of the hundreds of people across James Island whose lives are going to be forever changed because you prayed for them, because you invited them, because you took a step of faith to let God use you in your home. Like that widow, you took what you had and by faith you trusted that God would do something with it and he will. For all of you who are Saint James Church, thanks so much for being willing to be a part of this 40 Days Journey. We’re not sure where it’s going to take us, but we are excited about what God is going to do and again I want to say thanks for taking a step of faith. The most exciting thing that’s going to happen in the next few weeks is that you’re going to grow, you’re going to be challenged and most rewarding, God is going to use you. God bless you in this journey. ArthurActs 4:32 THE MINISTRY OF YOUR MINISTRY CENTER September 2005 I wonder if you know of the ministry of your Ministry Center? One of the decisions your Vestry made as we prayed, planned, and worked for years to build the Ministry Center was that it was to be God’s building, for God’s Glory (Soli Deo Gloria), and for the Body of Christ. That means it is to be used for more than just Saint James’ needs and functions, but for other Christian and faithful uses by groups that fit with and complement our vision of ministry. That is quickly coming to fruition. Your Ministry Center is being used every day of the week and used by several groups that are part of the Body of Christ with us. This September we will welcome the PACT Classes. PACT is Parents and Children Together. Several Saint James families have participated with PACT in the past and now that PACT is at Saint James we pray more will. Also, this will make it more convenient for the families of James Island to get great Christian training in rearing children. Remember, they don’t come with instructions. (See page 5) Also in September The Shepherd’s Center will begin ministry in our Ministry Center. This is an interdenominational ministry for men and women 55 and older. In our mobile society there are many of us who are crying out for friends and family. Check out The Shepherd’s Center on page 5. Again in September we will welcome the Precepts Bible Study. Also, a interdenominational ministry, Precepts welcomes any who desire to move into a deeper place with God’s Word. Precepts will begin on Wednesdays in September. Our Diocese has called on us, and our Ministry Center for help. When Peter Rothermel took over as the new Coordinator for Christian Formation in the Diocese he took that ministry to a new level of intensity and commitment. (By the way, Peter, his wife Jacqui and children attend Saint James) In so doing, the conference room at the Diocesan House was transformed into a Resource Center. Our Diocese called on Saint James to help fill the void of the lost Conference Room. With that we have welcomed several Diocesan Ministries and meetings. The Department of Youth Ministry meets here. The classes for the Diocesan Vocational Deaconate Program meet here. The Charleston West Christian Educators meet here. We also host the graduation exercises for Loving and Learning and Fort Johnson Middle School. Also in September our Ministry Center will host the Charleston Pastors’ Meeting of all the Charleston Churches participating in the 40 Days of Community. This is our privilege and blessing to participate in this Charleston wide ministry at this level. In April 2006, we will be blessed and honored to host the Diocesan ECW Annual Meeting. Our ECW are already praying and planning for this event. And there’s more and it’s growing. Meanwhile, your Ministry Center continues to allow us opportunities for ministry to gather, learn, enjoy, worship, plan, greet, welcome, sing, cook, and more that blesses and supports the ministry our Lord, Jesus has shared with us and we share with each other and our community. 40 Days of Community: During 40 Days of Purpose we focused on asking and answering the question, "What On Earth Am I Here For?" Now, during 40 Days of Community we will ask the question, "What On Earth Are We Here For?" During our 40 Days we will ask for a specific commitment from you. Sunday Worship Daily Devotional Attend a Home Group Share in a local Mission Project Sign Up now for 40DOC. Visit the Welcome Desk on Sunday morning. Fill our a 40DOC registration form available on the Portico of the Church. Visit www.saint-james.org. It doesn’t matter how you get there. Just get there if you can. Arthur 1 John 1:3 40 Days of Community If you have been attentive you will have heard petitions for the “Planning of 40 Days of Community” in our Prayers of the People on Sunday. A few of you have asked me about this. What is it? 40 Days of Community (40 DOC) is the follow up to 40 Days of Purpose. The campaigns are similar, but with some significant differences. 40 DOC has a dual focus upon small group development, with incorporation of new members, within the congregation, and outreach. These happen to be three of the foci which the Vestry decided to emphasize this year at their May Retreat. We will be highlighting upon the development of new groups to meet in homes, and additional outreach at several levels. Each small group will be asked to adopt an outreach, and the parish as a whole will continue to do outreach. Between last years well received preparation, and the Holy Spirit’s leading with the Vestry, this program came at exactly the right time. Additionally, through the initiative of the Charleston Leadership Foundation (the sponsors of the annual Charleston Prayer Breakfast), we will be joining with more than 25 community churches who will undertake the campaign simultaneously. These churches cut across denominational, geographical and racial lines. Anytime that many parishes can come together for any project, it makes an impact upon the community at large. The pastoral team at Saint James is very excited about the prospect of 40 Days of Community, and its impact upon our parish-and the greater Charleston area. Pam Dickson will be our Campaign Director. She is in the process of recruiting the Leadership Team. We are seeking the Lord’s guidance in calling the right persons to step into the right aspects of this ministry. Please join your prayers to ours. Our kickoff date is October 8, so you will be hearing a great deal more in the weeks to come. I pray you will catch the excitement as we embrace this chance to respond more faithfully to God’s purposes for our lives. Robert a News Of Our Anglican Communion As I write this to you on Friday morning, February 24th, we have all heard the news from the meeting in Ireland of the Primates of the Global Anglican Communion. As a result of their meeting, the Primates issued a 22 paragraph ‘Communiqué.’ This is basically the minutes of their meeting. In their Communiqué, the Primates have asked the Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Church of Canada to "voluntarily" withdraw from the Anglican Consultative Council until the next Lambeth Conference held in 2008. During this period ECUSA and the Church in Canada have been asked to respond specifically to the questions asked of them by the Windsor Report "as they consider their place within the Anglican Communion." Remember, the Windsor Report asked them to "regret their actions and place a moratorium on them. Obviously, there is more, much more. I know, what does all this mean in English for us? I can only say what is fact now. I cannot offer conjecture for what may come, only prayers and hopes. Our Bishop Edward will give us more details and his guidance for our future this Friday, March 4th, at our Diocesan Convention. What is fact now? The Episcopal Church USA is, at least till 2008 -- not in communion with the Global Anglican Communion. To quote the American Anglican Council, "At last a clear and unequivocal choice has been presented to the Episcopal Church USA…. They must choose between repentance marked by compliance with the Windsor Report or the continued theological innovations (read heresy) that separate them from the teaching and life of the Anglican Communion." This means orthodoxy has been upheld. The faith that was once delivered to the Apostles is upheld in the Anglican Communion. It means that unity with God by the Grace of the Cross has been upheld over unity with man at any cost. Thanks be to God. What This Means For Us… I can only speculate as to what this will mean for us as Saint James and for our Diocese, so I won’t. I will say that I pray this makes it possible for us to move on. We can now move on as we continue to make our statement of faith and communion with the Gospel, with the Anglican Communion, with the Network of the Anglican Communion in the US and within the Diocese of South Carolina. We can move on to be fully identified as a church, a denomination that is Biblically faithful, Biblically directed, and Biblically orthodox. We can also move on to do the work of ministry without the distractions of church politics. We Rejoice But We Will Not Gloat We rejoice that Biblical orthodoxy has been upheld, but we will not gloat. We have been in the right, but we will not gloat. We have stood FOR the Gospel. We have not stood AGAINST something. We have not stood against the revisionists of a Biblical understanding of human sexuality. We have not stood against revisionist leadership. We have stood FOR the Gospel. We have stood for us all, sinners everyone, who need and ask for the forgiveness, reconciliation, and redemption found only in the atoning death of Jesus Christ on the Cross. We have stood for everyone held hostage by past guilt and grudges who can find freedom in Jesus Christ. In this we rejoice, but we will not gloat. We will not gloat because our denomination, our common witness is hurt. We will not gloat that our communion with heresy is severed. We will not gloat because we are still One Body in Christ, and we will have compassion for those with whom we disagree. We will rejoice, but we will not gloat because to gloat would be to claim credit we do not deserve. Only to God be the Glory. Arthur Soli Deo Gloria The Weekend That Changed The World Lent 2005 "When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead." (Acts 13:29-30 The center of the faith and life of anyone who calls themselves a Christian is the death and resurrection of Jesus who is the Christ. The historic events of the weekend between the Thursday of the Last Supper and his Crucifixion on Friday lead us to the moment on which we base our faith – His Resurrection – the first Easter. This weekend is literally the weekend that changed the world. This year at Saint James we will be graced by the visit and ministry of the Reverend Doctor Peter Walker, tutor at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University, England. Doctor Walker is the preeminent authority in the Anglican Communion on the Holy Land, Jerusalem, the last days of Christ’s life, his Passion, and his Resurrection. He will be with us to teach, preach, and lead us through the last days of our Lord’s life. In preparation for his visit I encourage you to read Doctor Walker’s book, The Weekend That Changed the World, available in our bookstore. Doctor Walker writes of his book: "The task of this book is to look again at the events of that unique weekend – the first ‘Easter’. What had been going on in Jerusalem in the previous few days? What had been going on in the garden before the women arrived? What happened next? In particular, can we establish where precisely these strange events took place? And what are the implications of those events for today? Are they merely a fascinating part of ancient history, or are they indeed history’s central point, meaning that every human life should be focused upon them in some way? " With his book as a beginning point, Dr. Walker will literally give us a Holy Land tour of Jerusalem, the Passover Meal, the Garden of Gethsemane, Calvary, and the Garden Tomb using pictures, maps and his fine teaching. We will learn of the historic events, of how the history of Christianity has treated these events and be called to a new place in our faith. I encourage you to use this opportunity at Saint James to invite your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and any others to join you for Holy Week, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. This will be a weekend that will literally change our world. Holy Week Schedule March 20 - 27 Palm Sunday – The Procession of the Palms Monday 6:00PM Holy Communion, Church Tuesday Wednesday Maundy Thursday – the night of the Last Supper Dr. Walker will join us for our Fellowship (Passover) Meal Ministry Center Lecture, with audio-video Garden of Gethsemane – in the church Good Friday Noon – in the Church, Good Friday Worship 6 PM – Lecture, Worship – Ministry Center Easter Sunday 8 AM, Worship – Church 10:30 AM, Church – worship with choir & brass 10:30AM, Ministry Center, Contemporary Worship, Dr. Walker, preacher Arthur Colossians 2:2 A Vibrant Faith Throughout Advent, and Epiphany we have been given glimpses of John the Baptist. A radical figure, he was nevertheless very attractive spiritually, and gained quite a following. He understood the core value of a vibrant faith, a principle which he both practiced, and taught his disciples. He said: “He [Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). He knew that to be an instrument God could use to do His work, his love for the Father, and the Father’s chosen Messiah must be the 1st priority of his life. He willingly endured harsh living conditions and physical hardship in order to please the Lord and walk in relationship with him. His basic message was “Prepare the way for the Lord,” which he accomplished by valuing God first. As a child, John Wesley was trapped in the second floor of his home which was engulfed in flames. While his father loudly implored the Lord to show his son mercy, John’s mother organized the neighbors into a human ladder. They scaled the outside wall, and pulled young Wesley to safety. From that time on Wesley considered himself “a brand pluck’d from the burning,” someone whose life, by rights, should have ended. He was able to live for his Lord, without concern for social rank, prestigious pulpits, large churches, or the acceptance of the hierarchy of the Church of England. Pride, recognition, comfort, tangible rewards...all are of no use to a dead man. So he could make “the world his parish,” and the fields and mines and factories his pulpit. By giving up his right to define what his life and ministry must look like, he became the most powerful instrument of God’s grace in his day, and ushered in a tremendous renewal of the church. God does not need us to be “super-spiritual.” He merely needs us to be willing to allow him to use us in the ways and places that he chooses. Common men and women like you and me, with the empowering of the Holy Spirit, can become the chosen vessels of God’s grace for our day, for our culture. But our hearts must be opened. We must desire Jesus above every other desire of our lives. We must decrease, so that he can increase. Lent begins February 9th. It is a time to intentionally deny the flesh, and open the door to the presence of Jesus a little more. We repent, and turn away from the world, the flesh and the devil. This year join me in looking with expectancy for Jesus to honor these fasts, and to extend his Lordship over us in ways which will excite us, and renew his Church. It is a joy to serve you, Robert a How to face your future "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans … to give you a future and a hope … You will find me when you seek me, if you look for me in earnest." Jer. 29:11,13 (LB) Do you ever feel that life is like managing a whirlwind? The society in which we live today is so fast paced, and ever demanding who can know what is to come next. In this climate, how will you face the future? How will you face the New Year? The Bible suggests three timeless principles for facing your future: INCLUDE GOD IN YOUR GOAL-SETTING - Frankly, it's dumb to make plans without consulting God first. He's the only one who DOES know the future - and he's eager to guide you through it. The Bible says "We may make our plans, but God has the last word." (Pr. 16:1) In other words, planning without praying is presumption. Start by praying, "God, what do YOU want me to do in 2005?" LIVE TODAY FIRST - While you can plan for tomorrow, you can't live it until it arrives. Most people spend so much time regretting the past and worrying about the future, they have no time to enjoy today! The songwriter John Lennon once wrote, "Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans." Decide to make the most of each moment this year. Jesus said, "Don't be anxious about tomorrow - God will take care of your tomorrows. Live one day at a time." (Matt. 6:34) DON'T PROCRASTINATE - DO IT NOW! - "Don't boast about what you're going to do tomorrow, for you don't know what a day may bring forth." (Pr. 27:1) Procrastinating is a subtle trap. It wastes today by postponing things until tomorrow. You promise yourself that you'll do it "one of these days". But "one of these days" is usually "none of these days." What did you plan to get done last year that you didn't do? When do you intend to start working on it? "Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Don't say to your neighbor, 'Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow' when you NOW have it with you." (Pr. 3:27-28) WHAT PLANS DO WE HAVE AT SAINT JAMES? We will continue to listen to God… We will continue to build on the foundation of Prayer… We will continue to desire to build God’s Kingdom and not our own… We will strive to be a Kingdom Community… We will be a Spiritual Hospital… We will be a Disciples’ Community College… We will be a Bible centered, Purpose Driven Church… We will build our Small Groups… We will increase our care and outreach to our Community… We will continue to honor substance and not style in worship… We will grow in ministry to our children and respect of the wisdom of our aged… We will continue an active role in the Anglican Communion Network… We will go forth in faith…, we will succeed…, we will fail.., we will sin…, we will repent.., and we will continually return to the Lord. We will accept Jesus as Savior and follow and honor Him as Lord… May You Have a Blest, Happy & Fruitful New Year! ArthurPREPARATION FOR A COMING November 28 was the First Sunday in Advent, a season of preparation for the 2nd coming of Christ. Actually, the themes of judgement and visitation have already begun, and will continue until we celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas. But what do our preparations look like? Too often, we resemble society at large in our preparation. We run around shopping, trying to find the right gift for each and every family member. We decorate our homes, stringing lights and making elaborate displays. The pace of our daily schedule seems to build in activity and intensity, rather like labor pains, until on Christmas Eve it all comes screeching to a halt, and we have a day or two to enjoy the quiet and peace. Then, December 26 or 27, it is back to normal life. While the decorations, and gift giving are warm parts of our Christmas tradition, we need to spend time focusing upon our spiritual health. The Lord Jesus who came as the baby in Bethlehem still comes, calling us to deeper levels of love and service. He pours forth his life to us, seeking to transform our hearts, and to make us more yielded as vessels to carry his life into the world. He promises to come again, in the flesh, to fulfill all of time and history in the perfection of his Kingdom on Earth. His desire is for a people who are alive, and growing in the things of the Spirit. Become a resister; refuse to be overwhelmed by the external preparations which are calling to us. In the time before Christmas, focus upon prayer, and Scripture reading. Make time to allow the Holy Spirit to extend his control and guidance to our lives. Fr. Robert + From My Prayers We have come to the end of the 40 Days of Purpose Campaign, and it has been an incredible journey of growth and renewal. This coming Sunday we are planning a special culmination to the Campaign, called Celebration Sunday. During Celebration Sunday, we are going to celebrate all that God has done in our midst over the past 40 days. We will rejoice together when we hear stories about: We will also join together to pray, not just for our church, but for the hundreds of other churches who have also taken this 40-day journey. As your pastor, I urge you to join with me to not only celebrate what God has done in our midst, but also to honor the hidden heroes that have made this Campaign a success. In addition, I personally want to share with you where our church is heading as we approach the close of this Campaign. If you started this 40-day journey with us, you won’t want to miss this special celebration of all that God has done. So come, enjoy the stories, celebrate God’s work and rejoice in changed lives. Let’s celebrate! WHAT NOW?! Plug In!! Join up! Get Connected as Scooter has said numerous times. There is a Ministry Team and a Mission Team that fits your SHAPE right now. I pray you got some ideas at the Ministry/Missions Fair. Please know this. Saint James desires your ministry. Our Lord has a place for you. You are a valued member of the Body here. Come. Find your place. A simple prayer you can pray: "Dear God, I don’t understand it all yet, but I believe you love me and made me for your purposes. I’m sorry that I’ve lived for myself instead of for you, and I ask for your forgiveness. Thank you for sending Jesus to pay for my sins. I want Jesus to be the Lord of my life. Please help me to learn to love you and trust you and live for your purposes. Amen." Another – WHAT’S NEXT?! MONEY As Christians we hear competing messages about money. For instance, the world teaches us to: 1. Earn our money 2. Enjoy it (usually we over-enjoy it), which lands us in debt. 3. Repay the debt from overspending. 4. Save for future needs once you’re out of debt. 5. Give, if and when there is anything left over! But God teaches us to manage our money by inverting the order after we’ve earned it: give, save, repay, enjoy. Simply put, we reorder our priorities. The point of reprioritizing our use of money by God’s principles results in more peace, generosity, and financial freedom. Sounds good! On November 21st we will have Pledge Sunday. This is the day that we pledge our tithes, gifts, and offerings to this Ministry that Jesus Christ has shared with us here. This year we will not have a big deal about stewardship. You will not hear a hard sell about giving. Giving at Saint James is simply who we are and what we do. We give because we’ve received. We don’t do Fund Raising, we do Faith Raising. We think God is more interested in your faith than in your money. Because stewardship is so woven into the fabric of our church, we don’t need an annual "fund drive" kick in the pants to sustain giving and growth. We simply invite you to give as you have received. ArthurPsalm 150 Pentecost… Allow me to remind you of the sermon preached here at New Years by Dr. Peter Walker of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University, England. The outline of Peter’s sermon and his reminder to us for the year was; God With Us, God For Us, and God In Us. "God With Us" is Incarnation, Christmas. "God For Us" is Easter. "God In Us" is Pentecost. The Day of Pentecost is the celebration that God has fulfilled his promise share with us His Spirit and therefore be God In Us. Pentecost is the reminder that he has reclaimed His purpose in Creation to have fellowship with us. It is the reminder that he has fulfilled his promise in Jeremiah 31:33 that we will all know him. And, He has invited us to share in His Life, which is the Kingdom, by sharing His abilities (Spiritual Gifts) and His character (Spiritual Fruit). Just think, your Creator, your Father in Heaven has invited you to share in the Love-Relationship He has with the Son, Jesus Christ. Are you growing in love, intimacy, and knowledge of your Heavenly Father? It is His purpose and plan for you. Today, this moment, invite the Holy Spirit afresh into your life. Just say, "come Holy Spirit, fill my heart and kindle in me the fire of your love." Then act on faith and in the Spirit. Read Acts 19:1-7, Matthew 7:7, Galatians 5:22. You’ll be blessed by what happens to your life. Worship Schedule… On Trinity Sunday, that’s June 6th, our worship schedule will change to reflect the summer pattern of our lives. Worship Services will be 7:45, Holy Communion, Rite 1 9:00, Holy Communion, Rite 2 with Praise Band 10:30, Holy Communion, Rite 2 with Organ and choir Initially, all these worship services will be held in the Nave. When the Ministry Center is complete the 9:00 Contemporary Service will move to the Ministry Center. The schedule will remain the same. New Members, New Ministers, New Staff, New Ministry… When we welcome new members to Saint James we are made new and different. I pray you were present as we welcomed 20 plus new members to Saint James. They are God’s blessing to us and our opportunity to bless them. Together, we will continue to build God’s Kingdom Community. Every new member brings a new ministry, their offering as members of the Body of Christ. Remember, every member is important (1 Cor. 12:12ff). We also welcome new staff. Brenda Caldwell’s ministry has already begun to be felt in more ways then one. Ask her to tell you the story of how she fixed that disrupting hum in the organ. It’s a great story and she is an amazing do-it-yourselfer. Robert Horn, our newest ministry colleague will do two important things. First, he will fit in quickly. Secondly, he will take us to new places. Robert and his wife, Martha, will bless us. I pray we may also bless them. And together may be bless the Lord. What’s Next…? The Forty Days of Purpose will be offered in the Fall. At the center of the campaign is the fastest-selling hard cover nonfiction book in history. The Purpose Driven Life has sold more than 14 million copies since the book’s release in 2002. During the 40 Days of Purpose Campaign the truths about God’s five purposes for people — worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism — will be explored. We all long for a higher purpose than personal peace and happiness. We long to know God’s use and purpose for us. Our Lord said it this way, "If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it." More on this soon. Watch for it. ArthurJeremiah 33:3 Jesus Christ – The Offering With the movie The Passion of the Christ now playing, there is lots of buzz about Christianity. The buzz is in the media. The church is buzzing. And even people who don’t usually think twice about formal religion or give two hoots about a church, are also talking about the Cross. The question on everyone’s lips is, "Did Jesus really have to die?" And, "Was it really so bloody?" The answer to both questions is both simply and profoundly YES! Today many want to make a circumnavigation around the Cross and the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. They want to somehow bypass the need for a blood sacrifice to make atonement with God for their sin. This is understandable, but regrettable. It is understandable, because none of us really want to think that we have done something in our lives so horrible that it would take blood to make restitution. It is regrettable, because with our squeamishness about the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ we distance ourselves from the only means of true peace in this life. Why did Jesus have to die? We see the beginning of our answer in Genesis, chapter 3. Following the first sin, Adam and Eve’s rebellion against God’s precept, what was their reaction? In opposition to Genesis 2:25, now they were ashamed. Adam and Eve were ashamed because they recognized their nakedness. They tried to hide in the bushes, but that was an ineffective way to cover their shame. Because of their sin, their rebellion, Adam and Eve lost the privilege of living in God’s Garden. God expelled them. But, before he sent them out, God gave them Grace. He gave them what they didn’t earn or deserve. God gave them clothes to cover their shame. Genesis 3:21 tells us that God made garments of skin for Adam and Eve. This was the first time an animal died in creation. This was the first time that blood was spilled and it was spilled to cover the sin of mankind. Can you imagine what it sounded like to Adam and Eve when, for the first time in creation, they heard another living creature die? What must it have sounded like to hear the cries of the dying animals and know these animals were being killed to provide clothes to cover their shame? I can’t imagine – until I look at the Cross and Jesus. When I stand at the foot of the Cross and I see His death, I see his pain, and when I hear the silence, because He didn’t cry out, I know it is for me. He has offered his life to cover my shame. Did Jesus Christ have to die? YES! Without His death we would have no means to deal with our shame. But now, with his death, our shame, our sin is covered by his Blood, just as the animal’s skins covered Adam and Eve. Still, many of us try to circumnavigate the Cross. We attempt to ease our shame with the valuation of the world. Jesus spoke of this in His Sermon on the Mount. "Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men to be seen by them. If you do you will have no reward from your father in heaven." When we seek the majority verdict, the good esteem of the crowd, instead of God’s judgement, we are at the mercy of popularity and fashion. But, when we are content with God’s judgement and no other we will not be easy prey for the purveyors of instant gratification and immediate solutions which dominate the contemporary world. If you want to stay busy in your life, just try to live by finding your value from everyone you meet. But, if you long for true and abiding Peace, then turn to the atoning sacrifice of the Cross of Jesus Christ. It is there that His Offering covers our shame and gives us what we didn’t earn and don’t deserve – the life of His only Son, Jesus, to cover our sin and shame. As we claim the Grace of Jesus the Offering by confession and repentance, we have Peace with God. ArthurLuke 2:30 Leading Us Back to Jesus (Feb. 04) Freedom AND Framework…The "ands" of the Gospel… The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us… full of grace and truth." John 1:14 When Jesus came he was the Father’s message of "grace and truth." If Jesus had only been the "truth" he would have been the problem with no solution. "We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Likewise, if He had only been the "grace" he would have been the solution without a problem. "I’m okay, you’re okay." Everything God gives us in the Gospel is set in "both/and" language. It isn’t Grace or Truth. It is Grace and Truth. It isn’t heaven or earth. It is heaven and earth. It isn’t Law or Grace. It is Law and Grace. It isn’t soul or Spirit. It is soul and Spirit. The "ands" of the Gospel are not merely to achieve balance. Rather, these opposites when held together bring about a new creation. Join the Adult Forum during Epiphany and Lent as we discuss the "Ands" of the Gospel. Maybe in your life the Lion can lay down with the Lamb. Lent… The season of Lent, shared by all Christians, is very old. From the earliest times, the Christian Church felt the need to prepare in a special way for Easter. By the year 325, the Council of Nicea talks about a period of preparation that would last 40 days and would be observed in one form or another.  As we read our Bible we know the number 40 recalls several great moments in faith: the rain of Noah’s flood lasted 40 days, the wandering of the Hebrews in the desert lasted 40 years, and Jesus himself fasted in the wilderness of Judea for 40 days. This amount of time – whether days or years – is clearly special. For the survivors of the flood, it was enough time to purify the earth. For the Hebrews, the years in the desert wandering were enough time to change a complaining group of slaves into the people of God. Even for Jesus, 40 days was enough to change him from the private person of Nazareth to the public proclamation of the Kingdom of God. Forty days or forty years seem sufficient to accomplish something worthwhile. So, what do we seek to accomplish by the observance of Lent? In essence, it is to form us to become the people God wants us to be. Lent, you see, is not just a private exercise, but a public observance of the whole church. This is why our Sunday worship changes a bit. Our worship becomes more "penitential," that is cognizant of our sin and our need for a Redeemer. Make a special effort this year to observe the 40 Days of Lent that you too might be changed. Barriers to Abundant Life… Wednesday Night Lenten Program Jesus came, as He said, "that we might have life and have it abundantly." Most of us are not enjoying the abundant life our Lord paid such a price for us to have due to the sin habits of our lives. Because we live so much "in and of the world" we have become desensitized to the actions of our lives that keep us from God. On Wednesdays during Lent we will look at the "Barriers to Abundant Life." Some of these barriers are: Humanism is our attempt to replace God’s power with human-centeredness. Rebellion is disobedience, passive or active to God’s authority. Escapism is attempting to run or hide from situations in life rather than having victory through Jesus. Idolatry is anything we place between God and ourselves and to which we give undue priority. And inappropriate movies and music expose us to lifestyles or worship that is contrary to God’s Word. Plan now for your Lenten Journey to include the Wednesday Evening Dinner and Class and in 40 Days you too may be a new creation. ArthurFrom My Prayers January 2004 Praise God from whom all blessings flow. I know everyone who is part of Saint James will join me in giving thanks for the love and faith of the ministry of Fr. Floyd & Leona Finch. We have been led and blessed by what he called "his tithe." We praise God for the blessing they have been, even though now their ministry has drawn to a close here. But we all know that a Christian never retires from ministry, only ministry positions. Of course we all know that Fr. Finch will not slow down. He will only change locations as Bishop Gadsden may now receive all his loving attention. As many of you know, we had already initiated a search for a new Assistant Rector whom we planned to have in place by this summer. With Fr. Finch’s retirement and with God’s grace we may bring the new Assistant Rector sooner, but we will not rush. We will probably begin our search by the first of February. God is writing a new chapter in our ministry at Saint James and we will be prayerful, patient, and faithful. Following two glorious Christmas Eve services, Pat Gould’s ministry at Saint James has now come to a close. Of course her ministry will go on, only in a different way and in a different venue. We can only bless her in her faithful desire for time with her husband, family, and Lord. Jesus Christ touched our lives through Pat and for that we are thankful. Gene Gould has served for many years as our Head Usher. With Pat’s retirement and their desire for a bit of freedom to travel, etc., Gene will step down as Head Usher. We bless him for his years of faithful ministry. We will welcome Gene Morrison as our new Head Usher. Meanwhile, the Vestry, a special Search Committee and myself are working prayerfully and diligently to find our Lord’s choice for our next Minister of Music. God has blessed us with five faithful and very impressive candidates. We hope to have a decision before the end of January. Please allow me to reassure you that the candidate we choose will honor every area of our Music & Worship ministry. God has told us that He is building a Kingdom Community here. Part of that vision means that we live as the Body of Christ. In St. Paul’s description of the Body he teaches us that we are not independent, rather we are interdependent. Our interdependence means we rejoice in the joys of our fellow members and we are personally hurt by their hurts, all for the strengthening of the whole Body. Because of the interdependent way we live together there is no territory in our parish, especially in our worship. There are no traditional worshipers and contemporary worshipers, only Christians, disciples worshiping in different styles. This means we will not choose our next Minister of Music for the benefit of one area of worship over another. Rather, we will seek the person who: 1) knows Jesus, and not by hearsay, 2) is called to be part of Saint James and God’s Vision for this Church, 3) is a gifted and faithful leader and musician, and 4) will bless our corporate worship. All of this is not just to minister to us. Rather it is to lead us to grow in worship that our worship may bless God. My Personal Thank you… Praise God from whom all blessings flow and I do give God great praise and I thank you, the faithful of Saint James, for the loving, generous gift you gave me at Christmas. We all know that there is no wrong time for money. Nevertheless, your generous gift is most timely with now, two daughters in college. Thank you for this gift and thank you for the gift of your love and trust that you offer me every day. To God be the Glory. ArthurLuke 2:30 Anticipation and Hope December 2003 Advent is the beginning of the Church Year for most churches in the Western tradition. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day. The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." The focus of the entire season is twofold. It is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000 year old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God. In this double focus on past and future, anticipation and hope, Advent also symbolizes our spiritual journey as individuals and as a congregation. In our journey we affirm that Christ has come, that He is present in the world today, and that He will come again in power. That acknowledgment provides a basis for Kingdom ethics, for holy living arising from a profound sense that we live "between the times" and are called to be faithful stewards of what is entrusted to us as God’s people. So, as the church celebrates God’s inbreaking into history in the Incarnation, and anticipates a future consummation to that history for which "all creation is groaning awaiting its redemption," it also confesses its own responsibility as a people commissioned to "love the Lord your God with all your heart" and to "love your neighbor as yourself." Anticipation & Hope At Saint James This December we will mark Pat Gould’s retirement as Director of Music at Saint James. We will honor her and bless her for the faithful way God has used her among us. We will also begin to welcome a new Director of Music. The Vestry and I are committed to finding and calling a new Music Director who will continue the faithful foundation laid by Pat Gould and take us to a new, exciting, and faithful place. Blessing and supporting our Senior Choir is a particular priority. Please join me as we pray to be led to the particular person God is calling here. We will also prepare next year to welcome a new Assistant to the Rector. We are searching for a new Assistant for three reasons. 1) We must acknowledge Fr. Floyd Finch’s ongoing ministry to Saint James by not abusing his call and his willingness to serve our Lord by serving us. Fr. Finch has two part-time ministries that are emotionally full-time, Saint James and Chaplain at Bishop Gadsden. 2) In August, our Seminarian, Louise Weld will move to Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, PA for two years to complete her Masters in Divinity. 3) One of the many possibilities that our new Ministry Center will allow us is to offer worship services simultaneously. That means we can honor both worship styles equally. That means we can honor Sunday School with a full class time of forty-five minutes. That means we can have a Fellowship time where the whole Saint James Community may meet. That means we will need two preachers every Sunday. This is why we will pray for, search for, and welcome a new Assistant Rector next year. Our Proposed Sunday Morning Schedule
A new music program, a new clergyman, a new Ministry Center, a new Sunday Worship schedule -- It is my prayer, and my hope and anticipation that this new chapter God is writing in our lives at Saint James will bring new life to this Community of God’s Kingdom. And my He use us, only to His Glory. ArthurThe Biblical Church November 2003 At Saint James it is our purpose to be a Bible believing, Bible teaching, Bible directed church. If ever there has been a time to go back to Scripture we are in the midst of it. The Bible must be the authority by which we measure our lives and our church. As we look to our Special Diocesan Convention, the "Plano Meeting" and the meeting of the Primates in mid October we must admit that we are reaping the fruit of what we have sown. As a church, as a denomination we have slowly denied the authority of the Bible. Oh, it wasn’t intentional. It wasn’t planned. It just happened. Slowly, gradually, we began to change God’s Word to fit our lifestyle. We began to use God’s Word to justify the way we live, instead of using God’s Word to inspire how we live. Are we ready to change? Are we ready to repent? Are we ready to admit that we have lost the right to say, ‘but we’ve always done it this way,’ because look what it’s gotten us? Are we ready to submit our lives, our ministry, our church to the authority of God’s Word? The Word of the Lord… There are two applications in Scripture of the title "the Word of God." One is to the Bible itself (God’s written word), and the other is to Jesus Christ (God’s personal word). Each of them is called the Word of God. If we want to be rightly related to Jesus, we must be rightly related to the Bible. So let’s discover the authority and the power of God’s Word. Whose Word Is It? The word authority comes from the word author. The authority of any work is the authority of the author. It is the author who gives authority to whatever he produces. So it’s important to know the identity of the author of the Bible. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 If you want to be complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work, the source of it all is Scripture. Paul also says "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God." The Greek word for "inspiration of God" is defined as "God-breathed." The word for "breath" and the word for "spirit" are identical. Paul is saying, "All Scripture is in-breathed by the Spirit of God." The authority behind all Scripture is the authority of the Holy Spirit. He is ultimately the author. He used many different instruments, but the authority of the Holy Spirit—who is God Himself—directed each one. When we draw from Scripture, we are drawing from the authority of God Himself. Paul also notes all Scripture is inspired, not some. We don’t have the luxury of separating the passages we consider valuable from those we don’t. The Holy Spirit Himself has declared all Scripture to be inspired by God, and all Scripture to be profitable. There are no books that you can leave out or deem unimportant. Let’s not just focus on a few well-known passages of Scripture and think that they are all that matters. If you want to be equipped—and remain equipped—you must rely on the entire Scripture. You will find that you move from strength to strength as you meditate on, study and apply the Word of God. Jesus said we need to be hearing and doing the Word of God; not just hearing, but hearing and doing. What will we do…? We will become a Biblical Church. That means we will once again assign to God’s written Word and personal Word, the authority God demands and we need. We will not pick and chose. We will wrestle with the "hard sayings" concerning leadership, morality, mission, worship, and out reach. Arthur
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